Dick's Picks Vol. 12: Providence Civic Center, 6/26/74 & Boston Garden, 6/28/74 [LIMITED EDITION] [LIVE]

Grateful Dead

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Limited Edition, Live
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00004TYBA
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,625 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

• This is item 12 in The Dick's Picks Series.

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Jam (2:29)

2. China Cat Sunflower (11:24)

3. Mind Left Body Jam (1:39)

4. I Know You Rider (6:12)

5. Beer Barrel Polka (1:08)

6. Truckin' (11:06)

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Eyes of the World (11:41)

2. Seastones (4:52)

3. Sugar Magnolia (6:12)

4. Scarlet Begonias (9:31)

5. Big River (5:43)

6. To Lay Me Down (8:24)

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Weather Report Suite (14:35)

2. Jam (27:54)

3. U.S. Blues (9:40)

4. Promised Land (3:01)

5. Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad (8:23)

6. Sunshine Daydream (4:45)

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This three-disc set combines a second-set segment from a June 1974 show in Providence, Rhode Island, with the complete second set of a Boston Garden appearance recorded two nights later. The band was clearly in a playful mood that week, adding new twists to old songs and coming up with a number of dynamite jams out of thin air. Bassist Phil Lesh is particularly frisky and fertile on the Providence material. The collection begins with a distinctive "China Cat Sunflower" taken at an airier, slower groove than usual and bookended by interesting improvisational ideas. There's an exhilarating 15-minute "Spanish Jam" before they eventually encore with "Eyes of the World." The Boston show's second set opens with "Sugar Magnolia" and for the first time ever its "Sunshine Daydream" coda is broken off from its body and reattached at set's end. Also of note is a lovely "To Lay Me Down" and the far-ranging 28-minute jam that occurs after "Weather Report Suite," a ride unlike any other in Dead history. Throughout both shows, Jerry Garcia's guitar leads are as supple and fluid as they've ever been. Though it lacks the cohesiveness of one complete show, this 12th volume marks a true highpoint of the Dick's Picks series. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best China Cat Ever?, July 12, 2000

By	John Coleman (Lynchburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews

You can't go wrong with this set. Selected from a two-concertspan, there are many highlights on these three discs. Disc onestarts off with a fantastic China Cat > Rider that will make you press the repeat button. Words cannot describe the intro to this selection. I bought it for these songs alone. The first disc also has a great sequence of Truckin > Other One Jam > Spanish Jam > Wharf Rat that will guarantee this disc a permanent place in your CD changer. Possibly the best Eyes this deadhead has ever heard starts off disc two, which also contains a nice Scarlet Begonias as well as Me & My Uncle, always a pleaser. Disc three has the real meat of the second highlighted show, though, with a full Weather Report Suite followed by an unnamed "Jam." The rest of the disc is not quite as spectacular (although I must say I do enjoy that Goin' Down the Road quite a bit), but is good enough to call this the best $ I've ever spent on CDs. Get it, you won't regret it.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pinnacle Performance, September 28, 2002

By	Eric J Boyce (Boston) - See all my reviews

As grateful dead incorporated continues to exhume the treasured relics of yesteryear, for popular consumption and financial fulfillment, one must apply a critical lens to the endless harvest, in order to separate the wheat from the chaff. Collectively, these audio samples reveal the variety, in content, consistency and craft, of grateful dead composition throughout their evolving and devolving career. From a completist perspective, all of these instants of history are required listening. From a consumer (with limited means) perspective, its best to earmark the highlights and leave the lowlights for academic review. For my tastes, Dick's Picks vol. 12 stands as the pinnacle expression of grateful dead alchemy. The recorded events of 6/26&28/74 capture the vivid and vast expressive mastery of music that established grateful dead lore - the lore that continues to be relived by unrepentant, incurable devotees.

1974 stands as the high-water mark for both the technological and musical achievements of the grateful dead. The "Wall of Sound" PA system remains a historically significant triumph of art over business sense - as the band surrendered box office profits in order to deliver the most dynamic and accurate representation of the band's created sound. All collaborators benefited from this benevolence, the audience finally heard the awesome intricacy, as well as the earth shattering volume exhaled from the grateful dead beast. The band's improved musical reproduction allowed the members to reach for and towards the ideal of single musical consciousness. And the archivists captured a purer musical transmission to record for the annals of musical mythology.

1974 also represents the ultimate exposition of grateful dead musicianship. (Okay, maybe they return to these heights in 1977) By 1974 the dead had matured from its exuberant, experimental, but aimless and musically unbalanced origins into a laid-back-yet-right-on-time-airy-jazz-rock-blues-jukebox. This evocative, meandering, jazz sense is evident from the first track. China Cat Sunflower showcases the band's evolved musical ability. The track is anchored by Phil's lush liquid bass line that instills an infectious groove that induces spontaneous rhythmic dexterity in the listener. The rest of the band dances about Phil's organic groove. Jerry's metallic melody relishes the adequate dance partner. Bobby's sparse rhythm accompaniments accentuate and underscore the musical landscape. Keith plays with the sensitivity and sophistication of a jazz great. And Billy's drumming is nimble and driven. These individual attributes are evident throughout the performance. The band reaches its creative and musical zenith on this collection. True highlights include "Eyes", "To Lay Me Down" and the contiguous Truckin'>Other One Jam>Spanish Jam>Wharf Rat suite. Additionally the post WRS Jam is one for the ages - simply divine.

In a world full of wait and see - buy this one now.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wall of Sound, August 18, 2000

By	mike lewandowski (Lakewood, CO United States) - See all my reviews

The wall of sound was the Dead's sound system that took 12 hours to set up,this CD features that massive system. The sound is clear and has plenty of punch. The China Cat-I know you Rider Jam is worth the whole price alone. The most amazimg musical passage is the Let it Grow jam. This is a huge mind blowing jam. Filled with abstract moments, subtle jazz riffs, and in you face smash mouth rock and roll. The differnet types of music being played on this 3 cd set is amazing. Check out Seastones, a sonic exploration that you will either hate or laugh at in admiration. The often over looked song Ship of fools,is sung brillantly by Garcia to end this excellent package. Some of the songs on the 2nd disk are played in an average way.And the Sunshine daydream has Donna and Bob screaming out of control to the point of going way over board. But disk 1 and most of 3 are the reason the Dead stood out amoung all other musician of that time, and stiil to this day, Great Jams ,Great Imagination, Great passion, and Great sound.