GRATEFUL DEAD ‘DICK’S PICKS VOL. 2-COLUMBUS, OHIO 10/31/71’ CD

Description

LABEL: Real Gone Music
CD RELEASE DATE: 10/7/2022
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: 1995
VARIANT: CD

The Grateful Deads Halloween 1971 performance is almost enough to make one believe in spirits. For that nightcaptured on this, the only single CD release in the entire Dicks Picks seriesthe group played the most ethereal, dreamy, and, yes, spooky version of Dark Star ever recorded; its almost as if Jerry Garcia was communing with his ancestors (and maybe John Coltrane) for the first seven minutes of his beautifully structured, contemplative and yearning solo. Then, after the vocal verse, Garcia, rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, and bassist Phil Lesh take turns suggesting a new improvisational theme before the band telepathically picks up on a two-note theme and Garcia launches into some of the most ecstatic guitar playing ever captured on tape anywhere (labeled by some the Tighten Up jam after the Archie Bell & the Drells song; others hear an embryonic Eyes of the World). The rest of the disc is more than fine, with a spirited Sugar Magnolia, a rare, early-70s performance of St. Stephen (the final live version until 1976) and a great Not Fade Away/Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad closer rounding out the 59-minute program. But really, the Dark Star is worth the price of this single CD release alone. Out of print for years!