Dick's Picks, Vol. 11: Stanley Theatre, Jersey City, NJ September 27, 1972

DICK'S PICKS VOLUME ELEVEN is currently available through mail-order by contacting Grateful Dead Merchandising at 1-800-CAL-DEAD or online at www.dead.net.
DICK'S PICKS VOLUME ELEVEN is the eleventh in a series of archival live Dead CDs that were overseen by the late Dick Latvala. It differs from the band's "From The Vault" series in that the "Dick's Picks" releases do not feature entire concerts and are mastered from two- and four-track recordings, rather than eight- and sixteen-track recordings. Latvala was the official keeper of the Dead's tape archives; the Grateful Dead organization describes him as "one of the original Dead tapers."
The Grateful Dead: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir (vocals, guitar); Donna Jean Godchaux (vocals); Keith Godchaux (keyboards); Phil Lesh (bass, background vocals); Bill Kreutzmann (drums).
Recorded live at the Stanley Theatre, Jersey City, New Jersey on September 27, 1972. Includes liner notes by Paul Grushkin.
Personnel: Jerry Garcia (vocals, guitar); Phil Lesh (vocals, electric bass); Donna Jean Godchaux, Bob Weir (vocals); Keith Godchaux (keyboards); Bill Kreutzmann (drums).
Liner Note Author: Paul Grushkin.
Recording information: Stanley Theater, Jersey City, NJ (09/27/1972).
Photographers: Jonas Grushkin; Tina Eaton.
While these three discs of Stanley Theater psychedelia lack some of the audio and performance polish of the well-known Europe set, they more than compensate in the good energy department. Hear the band at a pivotal time, as Bobby's guitar work, piano a la Keith and the jams as a whole take a decidedly more sophisticated turn. Jerry sounds as if some jazz albums have started appearing next to his Bill Monroe collection--the influence shows. There is nothing quite like an early-'70s version of "Dark Star" to encapsule a singular moment of improvisational GD magic. This one, which segues into a jumpin' "Cumberland Blues" is certainly no exception. "He's Gone" is as mellow and lovely as ever. Paul Grushkin's accompanying stream-of-consciousness concert notes make you laugh and cry at the glory of it all.