Dick's Picks, Vol. 7: Alexandra Palace, London, England, 9/9-9/11/74 [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Culled from a three-night stand at London's Alexandra Palace in September 1974, Volume 7 gives a pretty accurate account of the breadth of the Grateful Dead's repertoire. In the early '70s, their playing had become more focused and succinct in some spots and more adventurous in others. Keyboardist Keith Godcheaux, who'd joined the band to augment an ailing Pigpen in 1972, was a fully integrated and important member at this point, using sophisticated jazz chords that added depth to the material. His acoustic piano work gave them an earthier sound on the rootsy material, and his electric sounds beefed up the more ambitious stuff. There's a preponderance of country-tinged material here: Bob Weir's "cosmic cowboy" persona trots out for readings of "Mexicali Blues," "Big River," and "Me and My Uncle," while lyricist Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia's fascination with Old West mythology reveals itself on "Mississippi Half-Step," "Tennessee Jed," and "Brown-Eyed Women." Fans of a more inquisitive spaced-out Dead will relish the 23-minute "Playin'" and the half-hour-long "Dark Star/Spam Jam," which eventually turns into a rather affecting, demonstrative "Morning Dew." --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

Scarlet Begonias
Mexicali Blues
Row Jimmy
Black-Throated Wind
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
Beat it on Down the Line
Tennessee Jed
Playing in the Band

Tracks:

Weather Report Suite
Stella Blue
Jack Straw
Brown-Eyed Woman
Big River
Truckin'
Wood Green Jam
Wharf Rat

Tracks:

Me and My Uncle
Not Fade Away
Dark Star
Spam Jam
Morning Dew
U.S. Blues

Amazon.com

Culled from a three-night stand at London's Alexandra Palace in September 1974, Volume 7 gives a pretty accurate account of the breadth of the Grateful Dead's repertoire. In the early '70s, their playing had become more focused and succinct in some spots and more adventurous in others. Keyboardist Keith Godcheaux, who'd joined the band to augment an ailing Pigpen in 1972, was a fully integrated and important member at this point, using sophisticated jazz chords that added depth to the material. His acoustic piano work gave them an earthier sound on the rootsy material, and his electric sounds beefed up the more ambitious stuff. There's a preponderance of country-tinged material here: Bob Weir's "cosmic cowboy" persona trots out for readings of "Mexicali Blues," "Big River," and "Me and My Uncle," while lyricist Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia's fascination with Old West mythology reveals itself on "Mississippi Half-Step," "Tennessee Jed," and "Brown-Eyed Women." Fans of a more inquisitive spaced-out Dead will relish the 23-minute "Playin'" and the half-hour-long "Dark Star/Spam Jam," which eventually turns into a rather affecting, demonstrative "Morning Dew." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

filled with jams.......2006-10-07

I like 1974 Dead a lot, and this has some fine music. I think the DP12 showcases more innovative music, however DP7 is one I do play a lot.

The Scarlet Begonias is very nicely played, as are all the long jams. The long jams are the main attraction in this release...

Nothing Special Here.......2006-03-15

I own about 3 dozen commercially produced live Dead recordings and this is probably my least favorite of them. It doesn't suck, but it also collects a lot of dust. The highlight of this CD for me is Wharf Rat, but that doesn't mean there aren't better versions of the song out there. I mostly agree with the other reviewers that this is a "good" concert but there's nothing special about it to me; nothing stands out. You could do a lot better with just about any other Dick's Pick.

One of the best of the series.......2003-10-17

This cd was not revered initially, but it has really grown on this listener. We find our heros in the Alexandria Palace in England in 1974. McKernan has long departed for the afterlife and the tentativness that pervades at times in '72 and '73 as a result of his absence is gone. A rousing and energized Scarlet Begonias gets the boys started and the next highlight is Jerry playing slide on a mellow Row Jimmy (Duane Allman he was not, but the slide is a nice change of pace). Then, on Black Throated Wind, we are treated to something not often encountered in the DP series -- Keith's piano is way up in the mix and he sounds ... great! Next up is a really, really great, energized Mississippi Half Step and the first disc should then end with Beat It On Down the Line. (Why? Because the final two tunes, IMHO, Tenn. Jed and PITB, are virtually unlistenable here in the 21st C.)

All in all one will notice that the vocals are slightly low in the mix which is slightly distracting, but not enough to earn any de-merit points). Disc two starts out with the obligatory skipping of the WRS (oh, you've noticed that I'm no fan of Bobby front and center?) and the Stella that follows is mellow, but nice. Dang, there's Keith's piano again (and electric piano, he almost sounds like Herbie H... okay, okay) gosh they really have him high in the mix and he sounds great -- it's a nice addition to Jack Straw, Brown Eyed Women, Big River (note Billy's cool "skip drumming beat" here) and into a fantastically energized and accomplished Truckin and Jam.

The third disc is killer. Keith is playing electric piano almost exclusively and NFA especially is enhanced by it -- this is a killer NFA and at 16 minutes, you're all smiles. A very nice Dark Star Jam at 30 min. follows that gets appropriately spacey at the end and then we have a wonderful Wharf Rat and US Blues.

The cd booklet's inside spread features a spectacular black and white architectural rendering of the Alexandria. Highly recommended.

Better than average Dead show = average Dick's Picks.......2001-01-19

Basically I'd like to support Alan Sandler's review. My only qualm with this set is that with better Dick's Picks out there including 4,8,10,11,12,14,15,16 and 18 to name a few, casual fans would be best to hold off on this one until they amass a decent Dick's Pick's collection. If you have most of those shows, then by all means pick this one up. Phil's bass thunders on Scarlet Begonias, Not Fade Away, and especially Wharf Rat. Also listen for the King Bee tease during the jazzy outro jam of a veteran Weather Report Suite. For those interested, these shows come from a three-night stand at Alexandra Palace in London from 9/9/74 - 9/11/74.

Solid collection that I listen to often...........2000-10-28

I have all 19 Dick's Picks. Most of them have a few songs I consider the "best version available", and some I usually skip. DP 7 has neither! It's just a real good show, with fun song selection, sharp playing and no rough patches. Some of the high lights include a great Scarlett Begonias, and a Not Fade Away that really moves. There are several good versions of "first set" tunes, like Mexicalli Blues, Half Step Miss. Uptown and Brown Eyed Women. Big River and Wharf Rat are also here. The band was tight, their voices were clear, and even with Dark Star, the mood was not very spacey. When I want some solid, easy listening Dead in the background, either in my office, in the car or at home, I often reach for DP 7, and I'm always happy I did.

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