Dick's Picks, Vol. 3: Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, FL, 5/22/77 [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
General consensus points to 1977 as being a particularly rewarding year in the Dead's performance history. Certainly, their musical blend was at its most dynamic--funk, folk, jazz, blues, psychedelia, and even disco seem perfectly balanced and wrapped in rock urgency--and the actual sonic mix was at its clearest and most organic (thanks largely to Keith Godchaux's piano). This volume comes from a May show in Florida and highlights the band in all its glorious imperfection. "Sugaree," "Wharf Rat," and "Morning Dew" are tender, poignant ballads that typify how the Dead would wring all they could out of even the most delicate songs: deathly quiet and pristine at one moment, bursting with fire and intensity the next. "Lazy Lightning"/"Supplication" and "Estimated"/"Eyes" represent the long-winding jam while "Music Never Stopped" and "Dancin' in the Streets" find them at their grooviest. Also of note is the truncated version (only the end of the suite) of "Terrapin Station," which would emerge on vinyl two months later. Flubbed notes abound, but so do moments of inspiration. --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

Funiculi Funicula
The Music Never Stopped
Sugaree
Lazy Lightning
Supplication
Dancin' In The Streets
Help On The Way
Slipknot!
Franklin's Tower

Tracks:

Samson And Delilah
Sunrise
Estimated Prophet
Eyes Of The World
Wharf Rat
Terrapin Station
(Walk Me Out In The) Morning Dew

Amazon.com essential recording

General consensus points to 1977 as being a particularly rewarding year in the Dead's performance history. Certainly, their musical blend was at its most dynamic--funk, folk, jazz, blues, psychedelia, and even disco seem perfectly balanced and wrapped in rock urgency--and the actual sonic mix was at its clearest and most organic (thanks largely to Keith Godchaux's piano). This volume comes from a May show in Florida and highlights the band in all its glorious imperfection. "Sugaree," "Wharf Rat," and "Morning Dew" are tender, poignant ballads that typify how the Dead would wring all they could out of even the most delicate songs: deathly quiet and pristine at one moment, bursting with fire and intensity the next. "Lazy Lightning"/"Supplication" and "Estimated"/"Eyes" represent the long-winding jam while "Music Never Stopped" and "Dancin' in the Streets" find them at their grooviest. Also of note is the truncated version (only the end of the suite) of "Terrapin Station," which would emerge on vinyl two months later. Flubbed notes abound, but so do moments of inspiration. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

The Dead at their best. Recommended for non-Deadheads.......2007-02-05

The fact that the fervent devotion of the Dead's fans seems based to a great extent upon non-musical factors has meant that much out-of-tune and downright sloppy playing has been elevated as "direct downloads from God". I suspect many serious music lovers who prize musicianship have been turned away from the Dead as a result of having being subjected to bootleg tapes of questionable merit, accompanied by a stoned lecture of why Garcia is "the best that ever played", or whatnot. This is a great pity, because when the Dead were "on", they were truly amazing: great musicianship blended with intense feeling and fearless improvisational creativity. This show provides ample doses of this alchemy. A keeper.

Great introduction to the Dead.......2006-10-04

This is one of the first recording I'd recommend to non-Deadheads...

I wont go on and on about the cosmic energy or any of that stuff. This is one great document of an excellent concert by any band.

The sound is very nice, and well balanced. Great soundboard recording. If you're thinking about buying a first Dead CD, get this one (well, you should really get Live Dead also.)

Maybe the best live performance ever.......2006-03-25

This is essential music to own in what is quite possibly the greatest live performance of music available on CD. I'm personally not a big fan of some of the songs (Dancin, Lazy Lightning) so the set list could be better for my taste but the songs are performed extremely well. Disc 2 is unbelievable, amazing, out of this world great. The Estimated->Eyes->Wharf Rat->Terrapin->Morning Dew is without a doubt the greatest piece of music I have ever heard. I cannot imagine what is what like to see that performance live. Words cannot describe how sublime this music is, it must be heard to be appreciated. If you are human, the ending Morning Dew will surely bring a tear to your eye; it's simply that well done.

I could go on and on and on, but the bottom line is that you must get this music.

Quite simple.......2005-10-02

This record made my world stop! I've been listning to the Grateful Dead since I saw them live in '95. Of all of the shows that I've heard I am convinced that this was the night that God Himself touched Jerry Garcia on the head with his finger. "Eyes of the World" on disc two all the way through "Walk Me Out In The Morning Dew" is the finest music that I have ever heard in my entire life. This set changed my outlook on life. It made me realize that music is more than just sound. It is an expression of life itself. The sound is alive and crackling with energy. I've listened to disc two more than 100 times and I know I keep finding something that I've never heard before everytime!

Brilliant but still a pity.......2005-01-28

Shame that the late, Grate Dick Latvala decided to release this phenomenal show in the days when Dicks Picks were edited highlights rather than full shows. The entire show makes for sensational listening and this edited highlights package is a bit frustrating when you consider what was left out. Still, that said, it is a fantastic set of tunes by a sensational band at the top of their game. When they were on there was nobody that could touch them. These two discs are further proof.

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