Tracks
Promised Land [6:14] 
Sugaree --> [16:21]
El Paso [5:04]
Peggy-O [8:34]
Looks Like Rain [8:59]
Row Jimmy [11:20]
Passenger [3:59]
Loser [8:38]
Dancin' In the Streets [13:47]
Samson and Delilah [8:00]
Ramble on Rose [8:38]
Estimated Prophet [10:09]
Terrapin Station --> [11:43]
Playin' In the Band --> [11:07]
Uncle John's Band --> [11:47]
Drums --> [5:28]
The Wheel --> [7:24]
China Doll --> [7:50]
Playin' In the Band [10:33]
Bertha [7:22]
Me and My Uncle [3:52]
They Love Each Other [8:10]
Cassidy [5:21]
Jack-A-Roe [7:00]
Jack Straw [6:13]
Tennessee Jed [9:41]
New Minglewood Blues [5:38]
Row Jimmy [11:28]
Passenger [4:15]
Scarlet Begonias --> [11:44]
Fire On the Mountain [12:53]
Samson and Delilah [7:45]
Brown-Eyed Women [5:32]
Estimated Prophet --> [11:27]
He's Gone --> [15:36]
Drums --> [4:09]
The Other One --> [11:39]
Comes A Time --> [11:52]
St. Stephen --> [4:37]
Not Fade Away --> [11:15]
St. Stephen --> [1:46]
One More Saturday Night [5:01]
Liner Notes:
Many of the Grateful Dead's most revered, discussed and sought after performances derive their merit from the grit of only one inspired set, most often the second, let alone a sequence of sizzling tunes, or merely from the remarkable interpretation of but one song. Given the band's primary agenda of attempting to musically transcend ordinary consciousness into a deeper, more meaningful state, many songs serve as building blocks on route to this inner plateau. Keeping their unique approach in mind, it's understandably a rare show when the Dead do deliver stellar song renditions from start to finish. Though not as rare as a lefty homering off a Zito curve or as the 3,600-year cyclical appearance of Planet X, it's still a special indicator, worthy of pursuit and penetration.
The intimate Fox Theatre on May 19, 1977 is such a show. Situated within one of their hottest tours ever, this show kickstarted a phenomenal trio of back to back gigs (along with May 21 & 22), elevating the remainder of the tour in its wake.
Ironically, the lack of space here prevents me from doing a song by song analysis. I'm confident, though, that you listeners will joyfully fill in the blanks when I'm gone.
The catalyst for this inspirational shift comes from the second song of the show. From my experience, this version of Sugaree is the best song ever to turn on friends to the Dead with. It's a perfect microcosm of what they're really up to. Soulful, tender-hearted singing wraps around three fabulously adventurous jams that never fail to ignite my sense of wonder. I've returned to this song again and again, relishing in its timeless ability to create perhaps the most elusive of human emotions: astonishment.
Though the entire second set is a marvel, the band treats us to one of those delightfully weird Playing In the Bands. Following on the heels of a brisk but enticing excursion to Terrapin Station, the Playing Jam has a spice-induced, pre-Matrix scent reeking of a flavorful foreboding despite the underlying slow motion rhythm battles with Agent Smith. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Garcia uniquely slam-strums his mates into the Uncle John's *reprise* (before slickly pulling a 360 on us). Pure magic. Following a spirited, steel-belted Wheel, the Dead deer-jump out of an achingly spooky China Doll (the first in almost 3 years) to graze on some more space, mingling intuitively in and out of the Playing theme. The tension is carefully cultivated, spiraling upwards like a flock of disturbed birds one moment, whirling chaotically downwards like an overweight helicopter the next. Finally, after tying the musical knot with assured grace (and enormous audience relief), the Grateful Dead gallop triumphantly into one of the most majestic set-ending climaxes of their career.
Michael M. Getz, co-author of The Deadhead's Taping Compendium Vols. 1-4
CAVEAT EMPTOR
Dick's Picks Vol. 29 was mastered from the original 1/4" analog tapes, running at 7.5ips. Although we've done all that is possible to make these CDs sound just exactly perfect, some very minor sonic anomalies remain. However, listen closely to the gems contained herein.
Credits:
Grateful Dead
Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 5/19/77
Lakeland Civic Center Arena, Lakeland, FL 5/21/77
Jerry Garcia: Lead Guitar, Vocals
Donna Jean Godchaux: Vocals
Keith Godchaux: Piano
Mickey Hart: Drums
Bill Kreutzmann: Drums
Phil Lesh: Electric Bass
Bob Weir: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Recorded by: Betty Cantor-Jackson
CD Mastering by: Jeffrey Norman
Tape Archivist: David Lemieux
Archival Research: Eileen Law/Grateful Dead Archives
Cover Art and Package Design: Robert Minkin/www.minkindesign.com
Photography: Jim Anderson c2003, Robert Minkin c2003
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