Podcast Summary: 36 From the Vault – Dick’s Picks Vol. 36: 9/21/72 Philadelphia, PA
Date: August 15, 2022
Hosts: Steven Hyden & Rob Mitchum
Podcast: 36 From the Vault (Osiris Media)
Episode Theme: The grand, bittersweet finale of 36 From the Vault, focused on Dick’s Picks Vol. 36—a much-loved Grateful Dead vault release of the 9/21/72 Philadelphia Spectrum show (with bonus tracks from 9/3/72 in Boulder)—as Steven and Rob reflect on their epic podcast journey and the enduring mystique of the Dead’s live legacy.
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode marks the finale of 36 From The Vault, closing out a three-year run in which the hosts explored every Dick’s Picks Grateful Dead release. It’s a deeply nostalgic, celebratory, and occasionally introspective episode reflecting on the scope of the project and the impact of the Grateful Dead’s archival releases. The main focus is Dick’s Picks Vol. 36 (the 9/21/72 Philly show)—considered a “true blue” Dick’s Picks and a favorite of the series’ namesake, Dick Latvala. Packed with Deadhead banter, memories, deep musical analysis, and fan community appreciation, it’s a love letter both to the band and to the long, strange trip of the podcast itself.
Episode Structure & Timestamps
1. Reflections on the Journey
[01:30–07:51]
- Steven and Rob mark the end of the podcast, comparing their exhaustion to Tour de France riders crossing the finish line.
- Joke about future Dead “spin-offs,” aging out of podcasting, and starting new projects with spritelier co-hosts (“Skyler” with frosted tips).
- The pair decided to eschew special finale gimmicks, maintaining the classic two-host format in the “spirit of the Dead”—improvised, unplanned, authentic.
- Over 40 episodes, about 100 hours of Grateful Dead talk tracked; self-awareness about possible “repeats” and familiar commentary.
Notable Quote:
"We've done 40 episodes, so we're hitting like about 100 hours of Grateful Dead talk by now. It feels like it at this point..." – [06:38, Steven Hyden]
2. Dick's Picks Vol. 36 Overview & Historical Context
[09:45–18:19]
- Vol. 36 = 9/21/72 at Philadelphia Spectrum (with some filler from 9/3/72 Boulder).
- September '72 is a “golden era” and a Dick Latvala obsession—other Dick’s Picks (11, 23) from the same window.
- The Philly show is praised as a “super strong” close to the series, possibly best of the season.
- The album’s delayed release owes to internal Dead dynamics: Phil Lesh, in particular, initially nixed its release (more on this below).
- Discussion on Dick Latvala’s curation philosophy: often endorsing overlooked shows and snubbing fan-favorite “overrated” shows like Cornell ’77 or Veneta '72.
- Importance: This is essentially “Dick’s Pick #2” – the show Dick wanted to drop right after #1.
Notable Quote:
"This is true Blue Dick’s Picks, you know, just golden era right here. And... it’s kind of weird in a way that it didn’t come out sooner... There’s sort of an interesting backstory with that whole thing..." – [12:07, Steven Hyden]
3. Honest Reflections/Criticisms: The Final Season
[12:38–21:02]
- Hosts admit this leg of the podcast journey was the hardest—primarily due to the repetition of (excellent) 70s material and challenge of finding fresh takes.
- Both note growing appreciation for the 80s and 90s Dead, periods less revered but full of surprises.
- The “weight” of digesting so much 70s Dead; yearning for more era variety for contrast.
Notable Quote:
"It's like having too much similar flavored wine. Like I wanted a little bit more dynamic range of flavors." – [18:19, Steven Hyden]
4. Listener Mail & Community
[21:02–32:32]
- Fan emails celebrate the show’s influence—helping turn former skeptics into Deadheads, thanks for honest and passionate commentary.
- Discussions of the Dead’s cultural tide during the pandemic and the ongoing “fight” to convert new listeners.
- Fun tangent: John Landau and Bruce Springsteen’s complicated relationship with the Dead; old-school rock critics’ dismissals; Springsteen’s later revisionist appreciation.
Notable Quotes:
"There’s no one way that works. An episode later, I was transported...and immensely enjoyed Disco Dead as well." – [23:37, Rob Mitchum (reading Shane’s letter)]
"I don’t know if the Grateful Dead were great, but I know that they did something great. Years later... I understood I’d missed it." – [31:08, Steven Hyden quoting Springsteen]
5. The Mythos: Philly’s Spectrum & Boulder’s Folsom Field
[48:51–59:23]
- The Philly Spectrum: one of America’s most storied rock arenas (76ers/Flyers home, 53 Dead shows, live Springsteen and Pearl Jam lore).
- Folsom Field: an outdoor stadium in Boulder, CO—Dead + Dead & Company favorite, and exemplifying Colorado’s jam-band tradition.
- More trivia: notable acts, local color (Aerosmith getting “M80’ed”), connections to classic rock history.
Notable Quote:
"It’s weird that we haven’t been to the Spectrum before now. Yeah... just a great period to be at the Spectrum." – [55:49, Stephen Hyden]
6. Setting the Scene: Pop Culture in September 1972
[59:59–63:50]
- Music: Mac Davis tops the charts, O'Jays’ "Backstabbers" (Philly soul), Three Dog Night, Chicago V.
- Film: “The Godfather” dominates.
- TV: “All in the Family,” “Flip Wilson Show” with Fifth Dimension and Tim Conway.
- Fun fact: Liam Gallagher (Oasis) was born on the spectral show’s date.
7. Deep Dive: Dick's Picks 36 – Musical Breakdown
(Repeatedly returns through episode, but primary discussion [66:23–114:10])
A. First Set/Disc One: “No Skips” Era
- Every song—even the “stock” ones—delivered A+ versions: “El Paso,” “Big Railroad Blues,” “Big River.”
- Bird Song is the opener’s hallmark—hosts call it transcendent, especially highlighting Keith’s presence and Billy’s jazz inflection.
Notable Quote:
"Birdsong, Jerry solo... then you get a Keith solo... Keith is actually playing wah grand piano... It sounds so cool!" – [73:39, Rob Mitchum]
- Powerful “Jack Straw” and “Loser”; love for the “sweet spot” tempo and the flourishes brought by Keith’s piano.
B. Second Disc (End First/Start Second Set): Deep Groove & Jams
- Standout “Ramble On Rose” and especially “Cumberland Blues”— compared favorably to the Europe ‘72 version.
- “Black Peter” called perhaps the best ever by Steven.
- “Playin’ in the Band”: a Goldilocks “just right” 16:47 minute jam, foreshadowing 73-74’s fusion era; “He’s Gone” into “Truckin’” noted as good but less spectacular compared to what’s coming up.
C. Disc Three: The Big One—Dark Star > Morning Dew
[95:18–104:55]
- The centerpiece—37 minutes of “Dark Star” into “Morning Dew”: a near 50-minute suite that both hosts say encompasses almost everything great about the Dead.
- “An omnibus of the Grateful Dead”—cosmic/feedback parts, choogle jams, a Mind Left Body conclusion.
- “Morning Dew” as the perfect, emotional set piece.
- Odd “Earth-to-space” whiplash as the band follows these with “Beat It on Down the Line” and “Mexicali Blues.”
Notable Quotes:
"This Dark Star-Dew kind of contains everything great about the Dead from multiple eras...offering a synopsis of everything that's incredible." – [96:41, Rob Mitchum]
"It is like a tourist through Grateful Dead history up to 1972 and even like previewing really like what they’re going to be doing for the next few years." – [99:15, Steven Hyden]
"You can just focus in on one person if you want, just dig on them and the next time focus on somebody else...real pleasures of digging into a show from this era." – [83:24, Steven Hyden]
D. Disc Four: Encore Party & Folsom Field Bonus
- Post-Dew is a late-night party set: “Half Step,” “Friend of the Devil” (up-tempo), “Sugar Magnolia,” “Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad.”
- Folsom Field additions: another killer “He’s Gone” into a 28-minute “The Other One,” closing with “Warfrat”—a fittingly epic conclusion paralleling “Morning Dew.”
Notable Quote:
"I always feel like it’s a real shot in the arm in terms of...the energy that this song brings when it’s played at its best. If you want to compare it to Dark Star, Dark Star is the dreamier, more spaced out jam vehicle, the Other One is really a chance for the Dead to flex their muscle." – [113:14, Stephen Hyden]
8. The End of the Road: Gratitude, Dead Scholarship, and Goodbyes
[118:59–130:47]
- The hosts deliver heartfelt thanks to Osiris, producers, music supervisors (esp. Amar Sastry), artists, the Dead (band + management), the listeners, and Dick Latvala himself.
- Reflections on the importance and innovation of the Dick’s Picks series—a field recording-like live archive that pre-dated the current “nugs.net” archival era.
- Steven plugs his Pearl Jam book, influenced by his jam-band immersion from this podcast.
- Cliffhanger: the potential for future reunion shows or side projects; the band and podcast legacy endure.
Notable Quotes:
"Nothing like [Dick’s Picks] out there...so idiosyncratic. It perfectly reflects the Dead...It shows the Dead and all their naked glory, and I think we have Dick to thank for that." – [123:48, Rob Mitchum]
"They're a solar system unto themselves, and it's fun to hop in a spaceship and fly around inside the Dead for a while." – [125:43, Steven Hyden]
"It's part of like—the listening to the Dick’s Picks and talking to you about them has enriched my knowledge of the Dead...but also just being part of the Dead online community...it’s special and I really appreciate it." – [126:31, Rob Mitchum]
Memorable Quotes & Time-Marked Highlights
- "When I have my own recreational Dead listening, I tend to listen to more 80s and 90s...you don't hear as much about that period. So it feels fresher for that reason."
[13:04, Steven Hyden] - “This show, all of these songs that get repeated are better here...Keith's piano opens up a totally new sound for the Dead.”
[69:41, Rob Mitchum] - “It’s all just so smooth, too, man. Even when he’s going off, [Billy]’s always in the pocket. I don’t know how he does that.”
[81:09, Steven Hyden] - “It almost feels like there's three sets within this set, because you got that big He's Gone Truckin, and then you've got the Cooldown songwick, Black Peter. Then you got this huge Dark Star dew, and you've got ... the jam, and then you've got the Cooldown ballad in do. And then it's like this kicks off, like, a whole other third set, which is kind of like more of like a party set.”
[106:15, Rob Mitchum] - “Dick had the privilege of, you know, having the vault at his fingertips to listen to all these shows. So it's a little unfair that he's bashing the tapes that everybody has in favor of what were possibly some more obscure tapes to find through traditional tape trading. But whatever, that's his. Right.”
[46:33, Rob Mitchum]
Tone
Endearingly self-deprecating, occasionally irreverent, always passionate and erudite. The hosts exude well-earned awe and love for the Dead’s music (and the weirdness of Deadhead life), poke fun at themselves and the broader mythos, and earnestly thank the community. This is an episode for music obsessives, Dead lovers, and anyone who treasures the weird, improvisational education of a long-term critical deep-dive.
Conclusion
36 From the Vault goes out on a high, with a deep and rhapsodic exploration of Dick’s Picks 36—touching on its musical peaks (particularly the “Bird Song,” “Loser,” “Dark Star” > “Morning Dew” suite, and the Folsom Field “Other One”), its historical significance (as an overdue, “true” Dick’s Pick), and the magic of September ‘72 Dead. Rob and Steven reflect on lessons learned, express enormous gratitude, and hint at future adventures down the musical rabbit hole.
The final sentiment is pure Deadhead: There’s always more to explore, but—fare thee well, and see you down the road.
Recommended Listening (Key Timestamps)
- [71:27] – “Bird Song” deep dive (Keith’s wah pedal, Billy’s swing)
- [95:18] – Dark Star > Morning Dew: the episode’s centerpiece
- [113:14] – “The Other One” at Folsom Field: energy and contrast
[130:33]: “We’re gonna wave goodbye now. Fare thee well, everyone. We’ll see you down the road.” — Steven Hyden