This is a nice recording. Somewhat sterile sounding at times, but there is nothing average about anything from Playin' through Stella. This is a killer show, capping a 3 month run of some really hot shows. First set is also good. Stranger and Birdsong are highlights there.

This show changed my life. A couple of my buddies had been sharing their Grateful Dead music with me for a few months and I was all primed up to see my first shows.

I didn't know many GD songs, but I knew and loved Playing in the Band and the Other One.

The first set opened and closed with two of my future favorites, Feel Like a Stranger and Bird Song, and most of the other songs had a real country feel to them. I was having a great time, but it was about to get even better.

I loved the China Cat/Rider opening of the second set, and of course, the Playing in the Band. When the Playing jam commenced, I went out for a walk through the halls of the SF Civic Center. They had speakers mounted in the halls, so the music was everywhere. I remember just walking down the middle of the hall, grooving to the music, and looking at the folks sitting along the sides of the hallway. They all looked like they knew exactly what I was going through.

When the Drums started, I went back in and started watching the drummers. I was fascinated by the interplay between Mickey and Bill. Throughout the Wheel and into the Other One I was in a state of pure bliss. I didn't realize anything could be so awesome in life and I realized that I had undergone a fundamental change and had joined the wonderful tribe of deadheads. I had never felt so at home before in my life.

Setlist nothing to write home about. Brent is way too high in the mix and jerry is too low imho.

No catastrophic failures but no real chances taken. New Years Runs from 82' and 84' are better performances than 83'.

It just sounds to me like Brent is taking the lead and Jer is lagging behind a little bit. Bob's songs are fine but not quirky enough for me.

Charlie made this recording sound best that it could. The performance however is simply average.

Solid 3 stars.

I got the wrong show. Sorry to waste your time.

Good one. Wonderful sound as per usual with Charlie.

For years on the New Year's run this was always statistically the best night.You get a very strong 1st set with a great duo opener, highlights include a excellent Mexcali, Loser, Minglewood and a good Bird Song. Set II starts off with strong China> Rider that gets better as it goes on. The Playing is long and more soft and wandering than driving. The drums space are very good with Jerry playing with the drummers and a nice intro in the Wheel. A short Playing theme and then a rollicking O1, with an extended opening, into a sweet Stella which features some wonderful playing by Brent, who is on the entire night, in the begining. A strong Baby Blues ends the night with a few lyrical flubbs by Jerry at the end. Once again great work by CM.