pretty cool that the Dead add on a mini-European tour to the annual Spring East Coast rounds.

There is a very interesting and unique doowop riff that Jerry plays in CC Rider. It might appear for a few shows prior to this and I'll listen for it later, but it's not something I've heard before so it must not last for very long.

When I have been away from my music for a while the first thing I do is reach for an early eighties board. You just can't go wrong. I did not see my first show until '87 and 99 overall but my ears dig this early eighties Brent sound more than any other dead period- Yes that is correct-over '77 and over '72-'74- although I adore these perdiods- I just find myself reaching for the early 80's. Why praytell?

Listen here to this hot show; that's why. The scarlet intro is perfect and soooo crispy (although the sound comes in just a second or two after the first chord strokes). It rivals 8/8/82 Alpine. The drums are mixed perfectly and each instrument is holding its own in the sound exquisitely. This recording sounds just a hair better to me than the other one here. Sailor>Saint is a standard for this period but this show feels like the band is on in every respect. The transition to Fire is nothing spectacular but is notable as the first night in europe '81 and the band is eager to impress. The scarlet is going into the coda jam at 4:59 and they jam consistantly until roughly the 10:45 mark where fire begins its core theme. Its a tidy list, well played and a very kind soundboard.

I rank this as one of my top 20 favorite scarlet fires. It is not in the discussion with 9/1/79's 38 minute masterpeice or 11/18/78 or 11/30/79 and by no means does it ecplipse the energy and power of Cornell '77- and don't forget the epic 3/31/84 jamfest in Marin as well as 9/4/83 Park west- and good heaven's UVM '83- these are all higher on my list- but this show belongs in a gentelmans discussion of the best scarlet fires- top 20 hands down. Having listened to about 50 scarlet Fires per year for the last 20 years, I can say that this is a new find for me. I've been on this site for ten years. I love that I can always find something new. I guess I am still listening for the secret, searching for the sound. I found the sound- AGAIN- right here and in a major way.