Dick's Picks Volume 31

Critical reception

On Allmusic, Lindsay Planer said, "Incrementally, this [lineup of the Grateful Dead] began distancing the band's sound from the R&B-meets-psychedelia of the Ron "Pigpen" McKernan years, as well as the more recent rural twang heard on Workingman's Dead (1970) and American Beauty (1970). Instead, their collective fusion-based explorations continually challenge the musicians, while simultaneously providing fresh extensions and visages on familiar favorites. Nowhere is this more evident than on "Playing in the Band". After introducing the number in their repertoire (circa February of 1971), they cultivated it from a fairly rote and otherwise typical rendering into an unexpurgated show-stopping centerpiece — as shown by the pair of 20-plus minute excursions on Dick's Picks Volume 31. They not only clock in at nearly half an hour apiece, but each is distinctive and examines the Grateful Dead's ability to end up at different places, despite the similarities in the point(s) of departure."

In The Music Box, John Metzger wrote, "Just days before Richard Nixon resigned his position as President of the United States to avoid impeachment, the Grateful Dead unleashed a trio of exhilarating performances in the mid-Atlantic. For certain, 1974 was a magnificent year for the band — even if it was the end of a rather disgraceful era for the country at large — for its mad-scientist amalgamation of country, rock, jazz, and blues blossomed beautifully, and although it soon would take a 20-month sabbatical from touring, its energy remained remarkably high. Indeed, the 31st edition of the esteemed Dick's Picks series culls material from the early August conclusion of the Grateful Dead's summer tour, and although it mixes and matches among the concerts to form what is essentially two shows, it does so in a seamless fashion, providing an intriguing and frequently mind-bending blast through the group's much treasured canon."

Caveat emptor

Each volume of Dick's Picks has its own "caveat emptor" label, advising the listener of the sound quality of the recording. The label for volume 31 reads:

"Dicks Picks Vol. 31 was mastered from the original 2 track analog source tapes, running at 7.5 IPS, recorded during the last American tour using the famed Wall Of Sound. Some sonic anomalies remain, particularly some over-exuberant piano-related sounds, but we have done as much as possible to bring the Wall Of Sound into your living room. Enjoy."

Track listing

Disc one

1. "Playing in the Band" (Robert Hunter, Mickey Hart, Bob Weir) – 25:50
2. "Scarlet Begonias" (Hunter, Jerry Garcia) – 12:01
3. "Jack Straw" (Hunter, Weir) – 5:27
4. "Peggy-O" (traditional, arr. Grateful Dead) – 6:47

5. "Me and Bobby McGee" (Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson) – 5:34
6. "China Cat Sunflower" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 11:13
7. "I Know You Rider" (trad., arr. Grateful Dead) – 5:22
8. "Around and Around" (Chuck Berry) – 5:08

Disc two

1. "Ship of Fools" (Hunter, Garcia) – 7:00
2. "Loose Lucy" (Hunter, Garcia) – 5:32
3. "Weather Report Suite" >
4. "Prelude" (Weir) – 1:20
5. "Part I" (Eric Andersen, Weir) – 4:20
6. "Part II: Let It Grow" (John Barlow, Weir) – 9:16
7. "Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 9:25
8. "Wharf Rat" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 11:21
9. "U.S. Blues" (Hunter, Garcia) – 6:32
10. "Sugar Magnolia / Sunshine Daydream" (Hunter, Weir) – 10:42
11. "Casey Jones" (Hunter, Garcia) – 6:26

Disc three

1. "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 8:30
2. "It Must Have Been the Roses" (Hunter) – 5:53
3. "Big River" (Johnny Cash) – 5:17
4. "He's Gone" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 13:12
5. "Truckin'" > (Hunter, Garcia, Phil Lesh, Weir) – 9:46
6. "Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 8:16
7. "The Other One Jam" > (Grateful Dead) – 2:30
8. "Space" > (Grateful Dead) – 10:25
9. "Stella Blue" (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:36
10. "One More Saturday Night" (Weir) – 4:58

Disc four

1. "Eyes of the World" (Hunter, Garcia) – 19:28
2. "Playing in the Band" > (Hunter, Hart, Weir) – 22:37
3. "Scarlet Begonias" > (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:25
4. "Playing in the Band" (Hunter, Hart, Weir) – 5:04
5. "Uncle John's Band" (Hunter, Garcia) – 10:44

Note

Grateful Dead

Production

Set lists

Following are the full set lists from the August 4, 5, and 6, 1974 concerts.

Sunday, August 4

Between sets: "Seastones"

Monday, August 5

Between sets: "Seastones"

Tuesday, August 6

Between sets: "Seastones"

[*] Included in Dick's Picks Volume 31