Grateful Dead
Dick's Picks Volume 2

Ohio Theatre - Columbus, OH

[October 31, 1971]

First Appeared in The Music Box, May/June 1995, Volume 2, #5

Written by John Metzger

Dick's Pick's, Volume 2 is the second of what I hope will be a lengthy series of releases from deep inside the vaults of the Grateful Dead. This edition focuses on the band's Halloween performance in 1971, and it is just as good as the last installment. The outing opens with one very tasty Dark Star that more than makes the show. Jerry Garcia's winding, spiraling guitar solo is enough to tame even the wildest of beasts. After the first verse, the band teases Sugar Magnolia and China Cat Sunflower. Around 13 minutes into the tune, one of the happiest jams emerges in full force.

The Grateful Dead eventually decides on Sugar Magnolia which is about average for the period and only a shadow of what this song eventually became. St. Stephen also is a bit mediocre, although the ending jam has a bit of spunk which carries the band into an excellent, groovin' Not Fade Away/Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad/Not Fade Away jam. During the final entrance back into Not Fade Away, the China Cat Sunflower theme resumes for a minute or two before closing out the set.

Of Further Interest...

Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks 35: The Houseboat Tapes: August 1971

Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead / self-titled (1971)

Grateful Dead - Hundred Year Hall

Dick's Picks, Volume 2 is available from iTunes.
To order, please Click Here!

Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 1995 The Music Box