Grateful Dead
Dick's Picks Volume 18
DANE
COUNTY COLISEUM, MADISON, WI ~ 2/3/78
UNI-DOME, CEDAR FALLS, IA ~ 2/5/78
Review by Barry
Small
© 01/02/2002
Dick's
Picks Volume 18 is a compilation of live Grateful Dead music from February 3 – 5,
1978. The label states the music is from only two dates, and that is where the
majority of the release is from. However, there are two songs from the
February 4 show on disc one. The February 3, 1978, concert was at the Dane
County Coliseum in Madison, WI and the February 5, 1978, concert was at the Uni-Dome
in Cedar Falls, IA.
The
first disc is a sampling of set one material from all three dates. It begins and
with a few rock ‘n’ roll songs with a mix of styles in between. Particularly
noteworthy are: "Bertha” > “Good Lovin'," "All Over
Now," and "Looks Like Rain." Donna gets her turn on
"Passenger," a song that features good slide guitar playing by Jerry
Garcia. The best part of the first disc is Bob Weir’s "The Music Never
Stops."
Disc
2 Dick's Picks Volume 18 contains a significant portion of the second set
from the February 3 concert. It is missing the first two songs, "Good
Lovin’" and "Ship of Fools." However, a great version of
"Good Lovin'" is on disc one from the February 5 show. It
is well known what to expect from an "Estimated Prophet” > “Eyes of
the World" and this one doesn't disappoint. It is followed by the
most exploratory portion of the release, "Playing in the Band."
This version sandwiches a splendid version of "The Wheel" to add a
dynamic dimension to the song.
The
third disc is the complete second set of the February 5 concert. The
"Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain," a standard set
opener, is rock solid. Even more impressive is the "Truckin'” >
“The Other One." They really build the latter song up to a climatic
peak and explosion, no wonder we like their music so much! As for the
"Around and Around," I do not like how they change tempos at the end.
Sure the blistering fast guitar leads are good, but the song flow doesn't work
well.
Dick's
Picks 18 is
the first live release from 1978. It showcases an awesome representation of the
Grateful Dead’s music in that year. However, a few staples of the era such as
"Shakedown Street" and "Terrapin Station" are not present.
My opinion is that Grateful Dead Merchandise did a fantastic job selecting the
songs to include on this compilation, it's hard not be impressed with Dick’s
Picks 18.
A
The songs are from the following shows:
Disc 1
- Bertha - February 5, 1978
- Good Lovin' - February 5, 1978
- Cold Rain and Snow - February 3, 1978
- New Minglewood Blues - February 5, 1978
- They Love Each Other - February 3, 1978
- It's All Over Now - February 4, 1978
- Dupree's Diamond Blues - February 4, 1978
- Looks Like Rain - February 3, 1978
- Brown-Eyed Woman - February 3, 1978
- Passenger - February 5, 1978
- Deal - February 5, 1978
- The Music Never Stopped - February 5, 1978
Disc 2
- Estimated Prophet - February 3, 1978
- Eyes Of The World - February 3, 1978
- Playing In The Band - February 3, 1978
- The Wheel - February 3, 1978
- Playing In The Band - February 3, 1978
- Johnny B. Goode - February 3, 1978
Disc 3
- Samson and Delilah - February 5, 1978
- Scarlet Begonias - February 5, 1978
- Fire On The Mountain - February 5, 1978
- Truckin' - February 5, 1978
- Drums - February 5, 1978
- The Other One - February 5, 1978
- Wharf Rat - February 5, 1978
- Around and Around - February 3, 1978
Page last edited on 06/22/02
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