Dick's Picks 14 comes from two shows, on 11/30/73 and 12/2/73

Disc 1: Morning Dew, Mexicali Blues, Dire Wolf, Black-Throated Wind, Don't Ease Me In, Big River, They Love Each Other, Playing in the Band

Disc 2:Here Comes Sunshine, Weather Report Suite->Dark Star Jam->Eyes of the World->Sugar Magnolia

Disc 3: Cold Rain and Snow, BIODTL, Brown Eyed Women, Jack Straw, Ramble on Rose, Weather Report Suite, Wharf Rat->Mississippi Half Step

Disc 4: Playing in the Band->He's Gone->Truckin'->Stella Blue, Morning Dew

Pros

-No Donna!!!

-The whole second disc

Cons

-Everyone loves the jam after Playin' but I find it annoying

Overall:9/10 !!!

This is one of the better Dick's Picks out there. It is very mellow, and there's no Donna, so you don't hear your dad running over your cat in his car when Playin' ends! The first disc comes from the first set from 11/30. The show starts with a Morning Dew, and while this version isn't as good as the version on disc four, it still is very powerful and even great for a 1973 Dew. The rest of the disc fares not as well, for the most part. the Mexicali Blues, Don't Ease Me In, and Dire Wolf are below average, although the Black Throated Wind is better than most versions, as Bobby's voice gets hoarse near the end of the song. Save it for the Sugar Magnolia Bobby! There's a fast version of They Love Each Other which is a plus in my book, versions like these make me wonder why they slowed it down after hiatus. The disc closing Playing in the Band is not one of my favorites, it's too spacey for my taste, but if spacey Dead is your thing you'll enjoy it.

The Second disc is one of my favorites discs of the Grateful Dead, period. It is terrific from top to bottom, and this release is worthy to buy because of this disc alone. It starts with a Here Comes Sunshine, and this version is second only to the one featured on Dick's Picks One. It builds up, it builds down, and it cooks! The Weather Report Suite that follows is standard for the era, but segues into a Dark Star Jam with Phil ruling my face. This calms down before seguing into my favorite Eyes of the World bar 8/6/74. It really needs to be heard to be believed. The disc and set ends with a Sugar Magnolia with Keith really doing a terrific job, and with Bobby making his voice go hoarse once again. After listening to it, my mind is blown every time. And there's two more discs!

The third disc, part of the first and second sets of 12/2/73, is better than the first, and is just great boogie 1973 Grateful Dead! The Cold Rain and Snow to start things off seems to be more intense than normal. Keith continues his great playing from 11/30 to 12/2, as the whole set features loud prominent pounding on the piano. After listening to Dick's Picks One again, I can safely conclude that Keith played best in late 1973! The rest of the disc is good, with a stand alone WRS, and a rare early set Wharf Rat that nicely leads way to a hot Mississippi Half-Step.

The fourth disc features primarily jamming. The Playin' to start the disc is considered one of the late Dick Latvala's favorites, and while it is quite unique, it's not my type of jamming. Jerry uses a lot of feedback, and it is a favorite among deadheads, but not me. However, the rest of the disc is very good, with a very delicate Stella Blue, and a great Morning Dew, that keeps building and peaking until a great finale. This set starts and ends with Morning Dew, and in between shows why 1973 was one of the best Grateful Dead years ever!

9/10

A couple rough patches, but is overall brillant!