"By 1973 the Grateful Dead had entered the second era of its 30-year run (1965-95). With the death of singer Ron "Pigpen" McKernan that March, the band had lost its bawdy blues soul. But Bob Weir's full flowering as a rhythm guitarist and songwriter gave the band another front man in addition to Jerry Garcia.
The band's songwriting prowess and productivity also transformed the structure of its shows -- from free-form jam-fests taking off from a handful of numbers the musicians played most every night to performances centered on their growing stable of songs. The Dead could still unleash 40-minute jams, but the improvisational playing was increasingly corralled between the lyrics of set numbers.
The superb new nine-disc box set, "Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings," captures the band on three hot November nights at its favorite San Francisco venue. The band rips through 72 songs in its inimitable blend of country, folk, jazz and psychedelia..."
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