Grateful Dead
Dick's Picks Volume 16
Fillmore
Auditorium
11/8/69
Review by Barry
Small
© 12/16/2001
Dick’s
Picks Volume 16 is a release that you get to hear two styles of early Grateful Dead
music merge. It includes both the early psychedelic and blues style, and a
glimpse of what was to come next with the Workingman’s Dead and
American Beauty material. Included
is the complete concert performed November 8, 1969, at the Fillmore Auditorium
in San Francisco, CA.
The
show gets off to a bluesy start with a Pig Pen led "Good Morning Little
Schoolgirl." After, Jerry
sings a few songs and is showed up by what follows, "Easy Wind,"
again, featuring Pig Pen. Jerry
counters with "China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider," a
solid version. The "High
Time" that follows is strong vocally, though CSN&Y fans may disagree. “Cumberland Blues" appears in its infancy and it
shows.
The
treasure of Dick’s Picks Volume 16 is disc two that begins the second
set. It demonstrates perfect transitions between songs that is signature
Grateful Dead. It begins with a
stunning "Dark Star” that includes a “Feeing Groovy Jam,” which would
later become the trademark riff transitioning "China Cat Sunflower” >
“I Know you Rider." It flows
into "The Other One" that leads back into "Dark Star" into
an "Uncle John's Band Jam" and back to "Dark Star," wow. Now
that's a "Dark Star."
The
band continues into familiar territory, effortlessly flowing into "St.
Stephen” > “The Eleven”
> ”Caution” > “Feedback" all is if it is one song.
Frankly, I am baffled at how they could pull this set off without
stopping. Hearing the band
incorporate the newer material into their repertoire, particularly the “Uncle
John’s Band” within “Dark Star,” keeps the songs and music sounding
fresh.
Last,
there is a twenty-five minute version of "Turn on your Lovelight" to
enjoy. It was recorded the previous night.
Dick’s
Picks Volume 16 is one of the best releases from the Pig Pen era. I'll say it again;
the second is great.
A
Page last edited on 06/22/02
Send me your review or comments of this
release.
|