Dead Set (1980) [Grateful Dead]

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I've often found it interesting how the Grateful Dead always thought their releases through in one way or another. It is a fantastic live band that has a lot of material available and with the trio Dead Set/Reckoning/Dead Ahead the band started the early 80s cheerfully. The focus is on songs performed between September and October 1980 at the Warfield Theater (San Francisco) and Radio City Music Hall (New York). Dead Set is the electric side, Reckoning the acoustic side and Dead Ahead? That's the video! I've always been more of a fan of electric Dead and although I've never been a sucker for fragmentary live albums, that version of Passenger is simply fantastic. It sounds messy and rough, but that's exactly what I like. Furthermore, a very nice setlist with a number of personal favorites such as Deal, Loser and of course Franklin's Tower. Fire on the Mountain always does well with me, but I do miss Scarlet Begonias. It sometimes happened that the two songs were not linked (Scarlet was released in 1974 on From the Mars Hotel, Fire only in 1978 on Shakedown Street) but it still feels strange. It's wonderful though how Space turns into Fire on the Mountain, it pushes all the right buttons and I haven't even mentioned that wonderful Brokedown Palace. The Mama, mama, many worlds I've come / Since I first left home somehow strikes a chord here. Is everything really that great then? I still don't like Little Red Rooster. Further? Very little to complain about.

Tracklist:
  1. Samson and Delilah
  2. Friend of the Devil
  3. New Minglewood Blues
  4. Deal
  5. Candyman
  6. Little Red Rooster
  7. Loser
  8. Passenger
  9. Feel Like a Stranger
  10. Franklin's Tower
  11. Rhythm Devils
  12. Fire on the Mountain
  13. Greatest Story Ever Told
  14. Brokedown Palace

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