Lawrence.com

The glut of live Grateful Dead-related releases has become tough for even hungry Deadheads to keep up with. The "Dick's Picks" series remains the mothership of this endeavor and continues to release multidisc sets at least four times a year. "Nightfall of Diamonds" is part of the more sporadic "From the Vault" series but is an important release for a variety of reasons.

It was recorded on Oct. 16, 1989, at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey during what many would argue was the Dead's last great run. The group continued to play up through the summer of 1995 but great shows became fewer and much farther between after keyboardist Brent Mydland's overdose death in July 1990. The ensemble interplay throughout the two-disc set is incredibly tight and offers some of the last great, and even inspired, playing Jerry Garcia offered.

The performance date was Bob Weir's 42nd birthday and he did more than rise to the occasion. He steals the first set, the better of the two, with utterly impassioned renderings of "Picasso Moon," Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again," "Feel Like a Stranger" and the monstrous "Let It Grow."

It includes a "Dark Star," only the fourth of that decade, to open the second set. This led to the song being reintroduced to the repertoire on a somewhat regular basis.

In addition, the disc gives two Mydland tunes, "Never Trust a Women" and the lullaby "I Will Take You Home," much-needed live disc representation. With his husky voice and original style at the keyboard, Mydland's role in the band's history is too often overlooked.

"Nightfall of Diamonds" is a welcome addition to an already stocked shelf of Grateful Dead concert discs.