Dick's Picks Vol. 21--Richmond, Virginia 11/1/85

Though 1985 is reckoned as one of the better years for Dead tours in the ‘80s, for decades this particular Pick remained the only place to hear a show from that year. And it’s no wonder that the producers of the series selected this date; it offers an unusual song selection and strong performances throughout. “Stagger Lee,” “Comes a Time” and Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me” are all seldom-heard revivals peculiar to 1985 and receive sterling renditions, and Bob Weir’s rave-up on the rarely-performed “Gloria” caps the show in grand fashion. Collector types will also note that this show provides the only instance of “Lost Sailor” and “Saint of Circumstance” being separated from each other in a set. Disc three adds nearly 40 minutes of bonus material from a September 2, 1980 show at the Community War Memorial in Rochester, NY, and all 40 minutes are devoted to a sublime medley of “Space”/”Iko Iko”/”Morning Dew”/”Sugar Magnolia.” Late-period Dead at its best!