Grateful Dead
Dick's Picks Volume 21
Richmond Coliseum
VA
Richmond
VA - 11/1/85
Review by Barry
Small
© 01/02/2001
Dick's
Picks Volume 21 includes the complete concert the Grateful Dead performed November 1,
1985, at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA. It includes several rare items
such as; splitting "Saint of Circumstance" and "Lost Sailor"
between "Drums” > “Space," and the seldom played
"Comes A Time," "She Belongs To Me," and
"Gloria."
Set
one is well played, though it has nothing incredible to brag about. The
show begins with "Dancing in the Streets," which is the Grateful
Dead's third rendition of it. This time their approach is shorter and more to
the point and is closer to the original. It serves its purpose of getting
the crowd of their feet and ready for the evenings music. The band does a
wonderful job to close the set with "Jack Straw” > “Don't Ease Me
In."
The
second disc begins set two. First up is "Samson and
Delilah" that is followed by "High Time." Before Bobby can begin
a song Garcia begins "He's Gone" and the band follows suit. The
most interesting playing on disc two is the closing instrumental during
"Comes A Time," that has Jerry experimenting with a different approach
to the solo. The "Lost Sailor” > “Drums” > “Space”
> “Saint of Circumstance" experiment was a successful with smooth
effortless transitions between the songs.
The
third disc is the best of the three. The version of Bob Dylan's
"She Belongs To Me" is superb. That is followed by
"Gloria," originally recorded by Van Morrison's early band, Them,
and makes a perfect substitute for the typically played "Sugar
Magnolia." It hits some high-powered peaks leaving the crowd wanting more.
Disc
three features filler from September 2, 1980, at the Community War Memorial in
Rochester, NY to round out the release. As good as the Richmond show is
this is by far the best part of the release. The "Iko Iko" is a slower
tempo than the later years and it melts into splendid "Morning Dew"
that ends in electrifying fashion.
Dick
Pick’s Volume 21 has quite a lot to offer and is a nice addition to the Dick's Picks
series.
A -
Page last edited on 06/22/02
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