Dead Fans who just love ... that '72 Good Ol' Grateful Dead !  Well, let me tell 'ya -- " We're Not In Kansas Anymore "... is now Out The Door !  With this Superb ! 11/17/72 Wichita, Kansas Show ... because the Grateful Dead ! are in Town - and Wow ... do they make this night Count !  Barnstorming Wichita - just like the ' Twister ' on the Cover !!  So, I hear propose the ' Big ' question for all .. .. .. Do you think they played Jack Straw ?  Hah !!!  Chuck-Berry style chops straight out of the gate as the Promised Land burner heats up, and it's On !  Plus, you probably need a little Heat! considering this is a just about Thanksgiving-time Show in Kansas !  No, but seriously ... you can tell right-away that they are Fluid ! ... & ' Comfy ' in a way where there is a little bit of extra " Umph " on every vocal sung & note played - that little extra attention to detail ... in All ! sections of the stage - Strings, Percussion, Keys ... and Vocals across the board !  Through the 1st 1/2 Dozen songs of the 1st set ( Promised - Sugaree - Uncle - Tennessee Jed - B.T. Wind ... Bird Song ! ), they get hot - and start rolling ' down ' hill in a way-good-way, in an unstoppable - we can do anything way on this night !  Plus, check your ' Era ' here G.D. wise ... as this is a house crowd that have just experienced the " Europe '72 " Album released ! ... Freshly !!  Can't think of a better album to kind of ' Tour ' than that one - and especially during this G.D. Golden Era !  By the time Bird Song arrives, everyone ( Band & Crowd ! ) is just settled into the ' Special ' Zone - knowing that anything great could happen ... simply because they are On ! ... all is smooth, and it's All-Systems-Go !!  Bird Song has something mighty-special in '72, and this one is no exception ... a noteworthy version, to be quite frank about it.  Then, it's Box of Rain time ! ... Ha !! - totally just kidding, as that one is next ... you betcha ... " Jack Straw from Wichita !!!!! "  And, ahhhhhh yeah ... they drill this one Real-Good !  Lots of treble pop & warmth from stage-right, as this is a Garcia Fender-Strat Drill-Down !  Or, a Fall '72 Clinic ... if I may.  The Band's confidence & lack of loose-ends really anywhere fills up this Century II Convention Hall ... clearly, and everywhere !  It is so incredibly apparent, that this is a Band that completely Delivered !! on their Europe '72 Tour - and they know that they hit it hard, and dropped-jaws all over the ' other ' side of the world ... as they really begin to play like they can tackle anything possible in this show, any number, any timing-count - you name it ... just by easily ! making it their own.  When the tempos change from tune to tune, it's almost like collective-gears of a car - or, something like that.  Machine-like in tightness, but they are in complete control of when, how & where they attack each & every tune.  Plus, this is still a good year-plus ! before the Band got a little weighed-down by the " Wall of Sound " ... and a hiatus was shortly due.  Not at All ! tired here, and if so - it doesn't show ... as the amps & instruments are pretty much at their mercy.  Though I am generally ( self-admittedly ! ) a real proponent of Garcia using effects, distortion, and heavy-distortion ... there is a clear & clean ' twang ' to this Strat-Attack, that almost allows the clarity & short-point resonations ( shorter-sustains ! ) themselves that build the jams !  And, we're talking about all-tempo jams too.  It's like this, unlike any other Guitar there is ( well, at least all the ones I've personally played ... naturally. ) - there is no other guitar made that can " tell you where to go - next ! " like a Strat can ! ... at least in my opinion.  Sure, they've got their limitations indeed, but ... that's not one of them.  Phil, Garcia & B.K. get off into some 3-way Cat & Mouse here that Rock !  Insane pattern & tempo weaves that make you want to jump right in !  Dang, and who said it was cold in Wichita ! in November of '72, because it sure sounds Hot ! to me.  Heck, ' looking ' at the set list, much less listening tells you this Show has a Good ! chance, to be one of ' Those '.  Jack Straw follows Bird Song ! ... B.I.O.D.T.L. yields to B.E. Women ! ... Big River cooks ! in the 12-spot, but ... don't let it fool ya' -- because China > Rider is Next !  Casey Jones & Cumberland back-to-back ... and Garcia just Howls - like any Grate ! Casey Jones should be Hollered-Out !!  Then after He's Gone ... it's no holds-barred, and no-prisoners taken ! in Wichita, Kansas ! ... as Dead Fan is left Gratefully-Dead !  >>> He's Gone > Truckin' > Other One ! > Brokedown > Sugar Mag !  Then, naturally ... the " Checkmark ! " of an Encore - with a Beauty ! of an Uncle John's Band !! ... with a cooker of a Johnny B. Goode to send them home ' sat-is-fied ' !!!  I really should note too ... because it can't be forgotten at this 11/17/72 Show -- Phil delivers a Magical ! Box of Rain ! ... studio-like in its perfection, but with a little bit of ' extra ' on that low-end ! ... and on the high too !! ... Yeah Phil ! -- go & get'em !!!  And ... if that's not enough -- here's the real ' Hidden-Gem ' on this Dave's Picks 11 ... a Five ( 5 ) Song Smoker ! of a segment from the 11/15/1972 Oklahoma City Show !!!  Down & Dirty Set II material - with Attack ! ... as only the Wharf Rat allows any time for the OK City Dead Fans to gasp for air !  Just check this ... Playin' > Wharf Rat > Not Fade Away ! > G.D.T.R.F.B. > N.F.A. !!!!!  Pounding, and Perfect !  I mean if you love your '72 G.D. Golden Era stuff ... this one is a Must ! -- right on the heels of Spring '73, and you can feel that direction for certain - that things are most definitely heading.  The Band is just such a "" Band "" during this very-special period & era.  An Excellent ! ... and most surprising release too.  Wow ... so I guess both ! Montana & Kansas get check-marks now -- and Who ?!? would have ever thought ?!  Oh ! ... and also -- just check out the packaging on this one, as it's a little on the Wild-Side ! ... " The Wizard Of Oz !!! " of course, but with a little bit of Black & White - versus Color ! snap-shots here to 11/17/72 ... an extra-special Case & Liner Notes for an extra-special '72 G.D. Show !!!  There are actually many ! improvements from the Europe '72 unit here ... through & through musically, but - you've got to give it a solid listen !  This one really made me Smile !, and I'll betcha it will do you the same ... well, you know - You & the Skeleton-Scarecrow !!!  Wichita '72 !!!  Enjoy !!!!!!!


TRACK LISTING >>>

Grateful Dead recorded ' Live ' at the Century II Convention Hall in Wichita, Kansas ( KS ) on November 17, 1972 ( 11/17/1972 ) :

Disc 1 :
Promised Land
Sugaree
Me & My Uncle
Tennessee Jed
Black-Throated Wind
Bird Song
Jack Straw
Box Of Rain
Don't Ease Me In
Beat It On Down The Line
Brown-Eyed Women
Big River
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider

Disc 2 :
Around & Around
Casey Jones
Cumberland Blues
El Paso
He's Gone
Truckin' >
The Other One >
Brokedown Palace
Sugar Magnolia

Disc 3 :
Uncle John's Band
Johnny B. Goode

From 11/15/1972 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ( OK ) :
Playing In The Band
Wharf Rat
Not Fade Away >
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >
Not Fade Away

Item Condition :  This Very Rare ! Out of Print ( 2014 GDP / Rhino release ) Grateful Dead Dave's Picks Volume 11 - Century II Convention Hall - Wichita, Kansas ( 3-CD ) Limited Edition Set ( of # 14,000 ) is in Very Good condition - close to Very Good/Like New overall.  CD's ( Disc 1, Disc 2, Disc 3 ) are in Very Good condition with faint light marks/scratches on the playing surfaces (please see photos).  Liner Notes ( 12-Page Booklet Insert ) are in Like New (Near Mint) condition (please see photos).  CD Case ( 3-CD Quad-Fold ) is in Very Good condition - close to Very Good/Like New with light surface/edge wear (please see photos).  Please see all photos provided.  Photos included are of the actual item you will receive.  Dave's Picks 11 - Featuring " Wizard Of Oz ! " Artwork !!! - by Gary Houston !! - 11/17/1972 at the Century II Convention Hall in Wichita, Kansas !!! ... Enjoy !!!!!