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WINTERLAND 1973 COMPLETE RECORDINGS

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 04/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nine discs-61,69,55,67,61,57,57,57,79 minutes each approximately. The original release contained a "bonus" disc (77 minutes) from Cincinatti on 12-04-73 not now included in this release. This concert comes from two-track tapes. The sound doesn't have the "openess" and dimensionality of other Dead releases. Saying that,this is probably the best sounding two-track recordings you'll ever hear. Tracks range from"Me and Bobby McGhee",to "Row Jimmy",to "China Cat Sunflower",to "Playing In the Band",to "Weather Report Suite",to "Truckin'",to"Promised Land",to "Dark Star"-those familiar with the band will get the picture.

Let's get it out right now-this will probably stand as one of the finest "live" sets the group has ever released. However,it's a different group than from even a year or so ago. A listen to the lengthy DARK STAR on this set is,DARK STAR,but it's something else too. Read on.

These recordings are testament to the growth of the Grateful Dead. Often dismissed as stuck in the "sixties",the Dead had quietly continued to evolve. Gone are the totally psychedelic flashes found in their own, and in others,compositions. Yes,the Garcia knife-edge guitar sound,the under-pinning yet out-front bass work of Lesh,the drum/percussion foundation of Kreutzmann,and the subtle keyboards of Keith Godchaux are all present. But there is something more-the Dead have matured,moved on in their playing. As I wrote,listen to DARK STAR on disc nine. Compare it to other recordings from even a year previously. It's DARK STAR,but it's also something else entirely. Even given the nature of the band to constantly improvise-this is something new.

This set,(the only one the band played at Winterland in 1973) shows a "newer" Dead-one that's totally at ease within a number of genres,especially their take on country music. The band sounds very at ease with this new approach to their music,which becomes apparent from the start of this release. The musical peaks and valleys the Dead like to travel through are still there,but there are subtle changes at work. The acid-twinkle,the tricks and turnarounds within the compositions are still there,but there is a maturity,a subtle,more straight forward shifting of approach to their music. A shift that only a band who has been together for a number of years,that have had it's share of ups and downs,is capable of. The band's identity was changing and growing. A close look at the song titles show that most of the compositions are relatively new,but are songs the band would continue to play,by and large,into the future. This growth was self-induced,but was also forced on them as their world (and ours) changed-sometimes for better,sometimes not. It's interesting to note that it was only a year (1972) past when the Dead played in Europe (documented on EUROPE '72 and other sets) playing pretty much their then standard set. Then change became evident in the band. Their new studio album,WAKE OF THE FLOOD,was released in 1973,prior to this three night stand. Also in 1973 the band played at the giant Watkins Glen venue,to many hundreds of thousands of people-which left an impression on the band. It was also the year that Ron "Pigpen" McKernan died,which was a blow not only to the band as a whole,but to Garcia,who considered Pigpen to be the defacto leader of the group. Bob Weir was coming to the forefront,both on vocals and song writing. All of these things had an effect on the band's playing.

In listening to this set,there is no real immediate feel of "gotcha" within a lot of their new material,that the Dead,in earlier years,were known for. The band,both in feel and in actual tempo,seem to be holding back,and holding back,until there is finally a release of musical energy. The playing,as a whole,is much better,more "professional" (a funny word for the Dead),but the fireworks,the sense of wild abandonment of the past seems to be gone to some extent. Don't get me wrong-this is one of my favorite sets from the band. I'm basing this on having heard the band,both live (those were the days) and on record from the days when they had just changed their name from The Warlocks to the Grateful Dead. From the days when Garcia didn't have a beard,up through hearing them in 1973. There are plenty of transcendent moments captured on these discs. More mature definitely,but still containing that "good old Grateful Dead" sound and musical trickery they are known for.

If you're new to the Dead experience,you should probably look elsewhere,if you want to know what the Dead were like early on. If you're a long time listener-this will do nicely.

The packaging is sumptuous-a box about five by five inches with a folding lid. Each disc is in it's own cardboard sleeve in a tri-fold booklet. Included is a Grateful Dead pin and a folded mailer,with verse and a cartoon. The booklet is informative about both the era and this collection. There is even an explanation on the technology used on these recordings. All in all a nice presentation.

To back up my point about how the band has changed,I played a number of tracks from both the Fillmore in 1969,and tracks from Europe in 1972, then listened to this collection. It's proof positive of,if I may use a much quoted phrase,"what a long strange trip it's been". And it's a trip,with this releases help,that listeners will want to take again and again. Get it while you can. This is a warm,fine release. It's like getting a gift from friends."

Great Music, Weak Engineering

james | 05/27/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I just bought this set from Amazon for [...], which is the right price for this product. Anything much more and you are subject to the problem that loyal Grateful Dead fans share--we are likely to buy anything the Band and Rhino issues, almost regardless of the price. First the good news. The set lists from these 1973 shows are wonderful, and the performances themselves are excellent, from an excellent year for the Band. All the classics from this period are here, and of course comparing the three shows is great fun. The Saturday night effort is particularly stellar. Now the bad news. Take very seriously the subtle warning that these concerts were recorded on two-track tape. Even the recent engineering efforts to bring these tapes alive are disappointing. Although the sound from the instruments is acceptably clear, the Band's voices are mostly lost in the mix. Bobby, in particular, sounds like he is singing in a long, distant, tunnel. The packaging cannot make up for the sound. Imagine some of the weaker engineering efforts from "Dick's Picks" or "Road Trips," paying [...] or more for the set when they really should be sold at [...] (comparable to the price for "Dick's Picks" and "Road Trips" for the same number of CDs), and you get the idea. If you want to hear the Dead at Winterland from this time period, you are much better off buying the five-CD Dead "Movie Soundtrack" from 1974. You will save a lot of money, hear the same songs, and benefit from superior engineering and recording technology.



Note: Since I wrote this review, Rhino and the Band issued their Winterland 1977 three-night CD set. This is a magnificant collection that is constantly on my CD player. There are none of the sound/recording problems that I found on the 1973 set, which I never listen to anymore. 5 stars. You will absolutely love this collection!!!! You can buy it for [...] from [...]."

Stash Box Dead

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 04/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This nine CD set of a three night run at Winterland, San Francisco is the type of release the Deadheads have been shouting for....well, for years now. 1973, was a transitional year in GD history. On March 8, news of the passing of Pigpen, meant that the old days were now gone forever. The band, played gigs mostly on the east coast of the USA, with only two shows played in the Bay Area, prior to this Winterland stand. "Bear's Choice" was released in July. Taken from The Fillmore East shows of Feb 1970, "Choice" was as close to a tribute for Pigpen, that the band would ever bring out. "Bear's Choice" also completed The Grateful Dead's commitment to Warner Brothers Records, and in October, "Wake Of The Flood" became the first release from Grateful Dead Records.



Away from home since May, this November three night stand at Winterland is a begining of sorts. Along with the new songs from WOTF, the style of the band's playing had evolved yet again with a more jazz influnced sound.

With tunes such as: "Eyes Of The World" & "Weather Report Suite," The Dead, approached this new music with a confident swing & swagger. Old chestnuts such as: "Dark Star" and "Playing In The Band" take on brand new forms and shapes, and deep space is reached in their center.



Old favorites: "Truckin", "Uncle John's Band" and "Sugar Magnolia" can be found right here in this box, but like newer tunes: "Row Jimmy" and "Stella Blue" they are used as ingredients in this great big musical stew pot. These shows are amongst some of the longest concerts that the band would perform. 1973, is concidered by many to one of the very best years of live Grateful Dead music. These nine CD's will begin to define just what all the fuss is about.



This Winterland box was originally released by The Grateful Dead, at their offical website in March, 2008. An extra "bonus" disc from Cincinnati Gardens, Ohio, 4 December 1973, was a part of that package. That extra CD, was a wonderful addition, to an already good box set. That bonus disc, still recieves lot's of play on my CD machine...but, alas it is NOT included herein.



This Winterland box, is accurate document of live GD music as performed almost 36 years ago. The "Stash Box" package is nice as well. The Dead Head mailer, circa October 73, is a nice touch as well. This is a very nice package containing over ten hours of vintage Grateful Dead music. This Winterland run, proves why it takes more than just one concert, to absorb, this beast we call The Grateful Dead. For the faithful followers of these live GD shows, we now have three COMPLETE shows to dig into. This is a great box taken from a key period of live Grateful Dead music. The "bonus" CD is sorely missed here.

Four Stars !!!"