This bonus disc opens with “Jack
Straw,” which was the sixth song of the first set. It’s a good rendition, but
nothing outstanding. That’s followed by “Tennessee Jed,” also from the middle
of the first set. It’s a nice version, and I love the way Jerry delivers the
line “Drink all day and rock all night.”
The disc then skips to the end of the first set, giving us the last three songs
– “Black Peter,” “Playing In The Band” and “Casey Jones.” “Black Peter” is
gentle and moving and beautiful, and you feel that Peter is in the room. The
song builds toward the end, and is for me one of the disc’s highlights. Like
the version from November 17th, this version of “Playing” isn’t very long, but
still contains some good jamming and hints of where the band would take this
song in the years to come. “Casey Jones” is fun, as always.
We then go to the second song
of the second set, “Mexicali Blues.” (The first song, “Ramble On Rose,” is not
on either disc, and I believe is the only song missing from the show.) Ah, “Thinking and drinking are all I have today.”
I’ve done quite a bit of both today. The rest of the disc is a great chunk of
the second set, presented in order, beginning with “Cryptical Envelopment,” and
leading into a drum solo. Then “The Other One” bursts open with a crazy, wild
force. Soon the band is off into stranger territory, but with reminders of the
main line of the song. And approximately seven and a half minutes in, we get
the first verse. Then we’re plunged right back into the weirdness. It can
get a little chaotic, a little messy, but it is never dull. And it goes in some
unusual directions. Definitely a good reason to get a copy of this disc. Just
shy of the eighteen-minute mark, we get the second verse. There is cool stuff
on both organ and piano. The band then eases into “Wharf Rat.” Wow, this
version is excellent. I am surprised by how quietly the “But I’ll get back on
my feet someday” line is delivered. It completely pulled me in. And then Jerry
builds from there, rising to a great height. Wonderful rendition, and the band
allows it to end rather than going right into the next song. The next song, the
final song of the disc, is “Sugar Magnolia,” and it is as energetic as ever.
CD Track List
- Jack Straw
- Tennessee Jed
- Black Peter
- Playing In The Band
- Casey Jones
- Mexicali Blues
- Cryptical Envelopment >
- Drums >
- The Other One >
- Wharf Rat
- Sugar Magnolia
Dave’s Picks Bonus Disc 2018 was released at the end of April,
2018, mailed out with Dave’s Picks Volume
26.
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