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Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 24
ByGrateful Dead
band / ensemble / orchestrab.1965

The Band
band / ensemble / orchestrab.1967

Allman Brothers Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Sun Ra
piano1914 - 1993
This set, from Daly City, CA's Cow Palace in 1974, captures the band during a particularly fertile period, in the midst of a run of great studio studio albums (the much-loved Wake Of The Flood, From The Mars Hotel, Blues For Allah, all reissued on Rhino). Not only was the band in great performing shape, but the songwriting duo of

Jerry Garcia
guitar, electricVol 24 captures these highs very very well. Not only is Jerry Garcia at his freshest as a guitarist, but keyboardist Keith Godchaux has really found his place in the group, not only for his ability to back Garcia, but also as the glue between Garcia and bassist

Phil Lesh
bass, electric1940 - 2024

Bill Kreutzmann
drums
Mickey Hart
drums
Chuck Berry
guitar, electric1926 - 2017
The band would not stay this energized for very much longer. Godchaux would shortly after discover and play exclusively the Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, which was tinny and tended to go out of tune. Furthermore, his accompaniment behind Garcia's solos turned into distracting echoes of the phrases the guitarist played. Garcia apparently found this annoying, Godchaux kept it up anyway, and eventually artistic differences and his extensive drug use led to his leaving the band, at which point he was replaced by Brent Mydland.
A judicious Godchaux and an invigorated Garcia leading the Dead charge through a time of their best songwriting makes 24 a highlight of the Dick's Picks series, right up there with Vol 36 (9/21/72, Philadelphia Spectrum, and what a show). It was the height of their life as a recording band, and they're playing with bright, brave enthusiasm. Not long after this, the band enters a less rewarding phase, and the resultant live recordings don't linger as positively as this one does. ">
Track Listing
U.S. Blues; Promised Land; Brown-Eyed Woman; Black-Throated Wind; Scarlet Begonias; Beat It On Down the Line; Deal; Cassidy; China Cat Sunflower; I Know You Rider; Weather Report Suite; Playing in the Band; Uncle John’s Band; Morning Dew; Uncle John’s Band; Playing in the Band; Big River; Bertha; Wharf Rat; Sugar Magnolia.
Personnel
Grateful Dead
band / ensemble / orchestraJerry Garcia: lead guitar, vocals; Donna Jean Godchaux: vocals; Keith Godchaux: piano; Bill Kreutzman: drums; Phi Lesh: electric bass, vocals; Bob Weir: rhythm guitar, vocals.
Album information
Title: Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks 24 | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Real Music
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Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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