Fck big guy. Happy 80th. Great show from a great year. I guess the magic is real since we’re all still vibing today. NFA

Jer only has to outdo himself everynight. But this show the supporting staff really makes this everything Ive come to love from the band. First, one drummer makes reduces the distractions, Keith is just fantastic with fabulous touch, and Phil just superb. In particular Stella Blue cant be beat. Finally, one of the intruiges of this show is the completely unorthodox set list. Stella Blue->Big River? Dark Star->El Paso?

Excellent show on an excellent day, killer Dark Star > El Paso knocked me on my ass!

Feedback and distortion problems aside, a fantastic evening of music.

The Dark Star and Eyes were vehicles for great music on this day.

This was a super show. Sadly though it was first time seeing the Dead where I held up my hand and the entire bad was obscured. I was shocked by the size of the crowd. I had been over seas and had not seen the Dead since 1971 Filmore and Port Chester shows. I was bummed that I was way back behind a huge crowd. Still, I the show is really well played and I have come to love 73 though not as much as 69-71! I took a big hiatus after feeling so lost in Roosevelt Stadium and Didn't see the dead until 80 or 81. My loss. but here on the Archive everthing becomes possible! Thank you so much to everyone who makes this site possible. Happy BD Jerry.

http://archive.org/stream/ticketstubs#page/n25/mode/2up. $6.00. lots of folx there, i was one of them....if only i could remember each show...40 years ago...

it was a grateful day,when you came to us on august 1st 1942,and gave us your many gifts,all of us miss you so,and we know that you are still playing in the band somweir,peace be with you.

You were one of the best!!! Good-bye Alligator! :/

there are several others that are far superior. (Listening to the SirMick copy now, the Dark Star is phenomenal- praise the clarity!) The main problem with this one is the bass is too loud and muddy. You can't hear the individual notes, just a lot of low-end noise.

Thanks Archive for providing so many versions.
Happy Birthday Jerry, where-ever you are!

i personally think this show is one of the most overrated of 1973, second only to 7/28 a few days before. the sound in the first set is listenable, but not good.

i find this version of 'Eyes' to be very overrated as well- i have no idea why this is included on the 10 top all-time best list. like someone else said, just too unfocused. perhaps it will gel with more listens, but i could list a dozen or more versions which are far superior.

still, there are some very nice jams in the second set, specifically during the 1st half of Dark Star. Morning Dew is great also.

first and foremost the dark start through dew was, well its the reason i listen to the dead, really had everything in there just super super wow!

the rest of the show was just great in general, liked the casey jones, got rockin and the jam on they love each other was something special

It's 3am and I found one of my first (and favorites) shows on that I had on tape. If I could have only been there for the Row Jimmy through the E Y E S, I sure I would have melted and became the puddle on the floor that evaporates and becomes one with show!! AND ITS SOUNDS FRIGGIN GREEAATT!! THANK YOU BOYS !

Very well played. I'd say the show is five stars and the recording is three. Thus I'm giving it four.

So we are not supposed to comment on Captain Doubledose, but instead listen to BigBurn? That's even funnier! Listen to a guy on acid or a stoner!

The show is a 5, and a real 5, not a '94 or '95 "5".

First off....This show smokes.
But the funniest thing is people commenting on Capt. DoubleDose. Seriously, his name is Capt. Doubledose. Do we need to question where he got the song lengths from?
Long story short...download this mother, she's worth it.

What a freakin 2 days of DEAD...not too mention the BAND...Blotter everywhere...DS>>El Paso>>Eyes>>Dew...does it get any better than this? We would always take the short drive fro NYC thru the tunnel to Jersey City..The drive home was always waaaaaay more interesting...Tunnel people at 3AM...Listen to these shows NOW Happy B-Day Mr. Garcia and thanks to the boys in the band and of course Mr. Stanley!!!

What more could a person ask for! Great Sound, Great Music. Turn on your headlights and drive!!!

Thanks Archive!

RMilite nails it below, as for the vibes. We agree. I was at both shows. Taped both shows on my Nakamichi 550. Ditto for last night. Jerry's b'day was enjoyed by all of us at both shows. It began last night July 31st, with the 2nd set, after midnight. History! 2 words. China > Rider. You must get last night's show here:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-07-31.aud.weiner.gdADT12.12883.sbeok.shnf

Roosevelt Stadium was the smokin' follow-up to the June 9 & 10 shows at RFK Stadium, in Wash D.C. Watkins Glen was way too many people for me to enjoy it, but I went there with my friends. I saw many of the other east coast shows in '73, up north, like Nassau Colliseum and the Spectrum. RFK Stadium had the best "sound" I ever heard -- hands down. The Dead played great there. It was the sound system that nailed it. Best sound that I EVER heard coming out of a PA System, period! Perfect. Roosevelt Stadium came in 2nd for me because these 2 shows are very exciting. The sound has tinny moments. Definitely very special. Definitely history. The best of the Wall of Sound era.

RFK Stadium Sat & Sun shows, June 9 & 10, 1973:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-06-09.sbd.hollister.174.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-06-10.sbd.hollister.174.sbeok.shnf

I looked up this show because out of over 100 shows I saw it was one I will always remember as though it was yesterday. For those of you who rate it highly, you nailed it and Im amazed that that you were able to from the quality of these tapes. Some memories: at the end of Casey Jones for the cresendo, the roadcrew released about a dozen fire estinguishers that sent a slow rolling clous of co2 over the crowed and air conditioned the stadium on a ver hot night. Then during the break little 3x5 pieces of paper were sent throught the crowd (alledegedly from the road crew and alledgedly Owsleys finest ) with the verbal instructions to "rip off a piece you thin you can handle" . All I can say is that by the time intermission was over my friends and I were in orbit on the cleanest trip I ever had. Then the second set opened up and fireworks were set off behind the stage and Happy Birthday Jerry fireworks were lit off around the upper deck of the stadium. Jerry's birthday party was on and thats what you all hear in this music. A VERY special show indeed, I just wish you all could have been there.

I just love this Eyes. Must listen.

I must confess, that unlike some others, I do prefer the 2 drummer sets -- it's a syncopation thing. But, Phil and jerry sound great -- swimming around your mind like a couple of dragonflies on a warm summer night. :)

Grab the best headphones you've got, slap 'em on. And go!

first dead show. i went for The Band but got pulled under into the deadhead thing.
my friend's older brother went to both shows, two nights in a row. whoa. we'd never heard of anyone doing that before..!
at 16, i'd never seen so many real hippies before. i wanted to be one when i grew up.

absolutley amazing show, prime example of mind blowing dead in their honey year(73) however the sound is not to great at some points(aud patches) but dont let it hold you back, its that good
5 for performance
3.5 for sound
Overall 4.5

This show just goes to show the commitment of every member of this group to creating beautiful, mind-bending, utterly amazing music, despite the death of one of the band's core members a few months prior. Miles2184 makes a great point about Jerry's supernatural musical gifts, but this show proves how much the rest of the band cannot be downplayed. Bob Weir, while a protege of Jerry, was integral to the Grateful Dead, just as Jerry was. If Bob had passed first, I know Jerry would have continued, and I personally view it as a tribute to Jerry that the rest of the members of the Grateful Dead continue to bring this amazing music to young, inspired minds everywhere.

I was 16 at the time and my brother brought me with some of his college buddies to this show. Roosevelt Stadium was a fun place to see a concert. So far this is every bit as good as I remembered it to be. Does anybody have this on cd that I can get a copy of? I'll send blanks in return. For some reason, I can't download this show on to my computer. The Band was great on this night too even though they hadn't played much that year.

hidden gem.

This has always been one of my favorite shows. I have had parts of it since the late 70's. For a long time, I only had the Dark Star>El Paso>Eyes >Dew, and am so happy to be able to get the whole show now. To me this is one of the great Dark Stars of all time. The jam after the verse is spacy and sweet, and the transition into El Paso is very smooth, and actually works very well. The Eyes is one of those classic 20 minute '73 versions with the Stronger than Dirt jam at the end, and the Dew is one of the slowest I have heard. The rest of the show really rocks as well. The Sound is excellent!!

As an aside, the dark Star>El Paso jam is one that we would often play in the hotel after shows as everyone was getting ready for bed and trying to crash out. This was not because it is a boring jam, it is definitely not that, but the jam after the verse and into El Paso is long and very spacey and is a perfect jam to get your mind to stop racing and relax, it worked every time!!
Get this show!!

This Dark Star is amazing. Right out of the start, the easiness of the flow establishes that magical realm we know and love (and seek out again and again in these old shows...)
The Dark Star>El Paso>Eyes>Dew section would merit the highly coveted 6th star on its own...
And the crowning seventh is due to the ABSOLUTELY PERFECT MIX (thank you, David Gans)
btw, the rest of the show doesn't sound as good but it's still great music, the whole night (Jerry's b-day) was blazing.
listen...

This is all about the Eyes of the World for me. My favorite version ever of my favorite Dead song. I really dig Weir's playing on it, and Billy is on fire!!! More proof that the one-drummer Dead was better. The drums are much more punchy and crisp with Billy alone. Donna does her part well, and Keith puts down some cool fills in the chorus. Only with Phil was up front
a little more in the mix.

This show was supposed to be the night before for those of you that were not around then. The July 30th show was rained out the boys tried their hardest to play even setting up beach umbrellas over Jerry, Bob and Phil.but it was too dangerous. Some rowdy fans started throwing bottles at them on stage when it was announced that the show was cancelled. They really made it up to us in these two excellent shows. I was right up front as usual for Jerry's birthday and boy was he munching on a lot of watermelon about a half hour before the show. As near perfect as he was this night I wonder what was in that watermelon!

you're obviously confusing the megabyte length of the VBR MP3 with the minutes - Dark Star is but a respectable 24 minutes -

I've only listened to a few cuts, but Weir is indeed whacked out this. Over the years I've respected his abilities, but the more I listen the more I've come to appreciate what he meant to this band. GDTRFB he really comes through

Jim

Bob is whacked on this - the others are right this is a great period piece with some wonderful riffs...

Dark Star weighs in at a hefty 37 mins and Eyes is close to 30 put these together and you have an average 80's 1st set and they both crush it as well.

MORNING DEW IS ONE OF THE BEST THEY EVER PLAYED.

What a wonderful show. Why? Who knows. But the boys, especially Jerry were on today. Perfect for listening to on this day...the feast of St. Jerome! A later St. Jerome leads us on beautiful paths in this show.

WOW! Damn, Jerry is sizzling on his birthday in 1973. The whole show is excellent...sound quality is "just exactly perfect"...perfect mix of soundboard and audience vibe.

The highlight for me is Row Jimmy > Dew. Jerry is in control and the boys follow. I love this show...Thanks to all those who made it available.

The most notable thing here, besides the playing and fun had at the show, is how well this sounds - it seemingly has that desired mix of mostly board, but with enough audience that it feels more like being there than most shows provide. Neither plastic (sign of too much board) nor distant (sign of weak audience tracks), we are transformed/transported well into the night's festivities.

A plus from this era - it is always special to see/hear Jerry as lead on four of five consecutive tunes (ROW>DARK STAR>el paso>EYES>DEW), which genuinely notes/archives how deeply Jerry would get in a groove that no one (especially the other members) wanted to end, and he delivered accordingly. And, further more, this only goes to prove why this band should have stayed silent after his passing, for, as Pete Townsend commented about bringing in 17 instruments when they performed TOMMY and QUADROPHENIA, "Look what we had to do to replace Keith Moon" - no reorganization or replacement effort can supply the artistic/beauty levels Jerry brought to the table. Jerry was already (born) at the artistic level most of the other members sought (why they followed his "lead" in more ways than just onstage), and only Mickey has (independently) reached close to such levels since.

To add to the unanimous reviews; this dark star>el paso>eyes is special. A beautifully unique moment that pobably began several days earlier. I don't know what was going on in and around the band at this specific time but the emergence of this nights configuration indicates a unique creative force had been folling them around. (check out Watkins Glenn 7-14-73). Definatly cool stuff here friends. Dark star is pulsating with steller energy. A cosmic blessing from the universe to celebrate Jerry's birthday? Maybe. The Eyes is upbeat and and the melody is sweet except for a few little strange turns of the guitar after the first chorus but by this time youve probably already been turned inside out and are floating off the ground anyway sound just enjoy the muse. It still gives me goosebumps.

What an incredible show from a classic time period. Jerry tears it up on his b-day.

so Jerry does Ham away during the Star>Paso>Eyes>Dew, but Phil is what drives the Dark Star pre verse jam. this guy is in top form as he just reaches out of the galaxy to create his bass runs. this is easily a top 5 jam for me. next, the El Paso segue was pretty common in 72' and this is a prime example. maybe not as smooth as the Rhein Hall show from the Europe tour, but good none the less. People say that the Eyes is "unfocused", well i like this one a lot because it is quite different than other Eyes. Jerry takes off like a mad man, and Bobby really compliments him well here. The ending is pure Jerry soul as he steals my face. Morning Dew is the perfect way to end, and the climax just seems to never come. amazing. sound is pretty good too.

The Dark Star-El Paso-Eyes-Dew segment of this show is *The Shit*. All-time great versions of Dark Star, Eyes, and Dew. The El Paso is a perfect high-energy break in the middle of all the madness. This show is a must-have.

...as was previously written, Dark Star>El Paso>Eyes>Dew is a mindblower. Close to perfection.

This Dark Star has a pronounced 'Fracture' (King Crimson) tease by Jerry around the 22-23 minute mark. Check it out!

I've only heard the Dark Star thru Dew segment of this. By '73 standards, the Eyes is a tad unfocused and the Dew a mite sloppy. But the Dark Star is fantastic and unique. The part I play over and over is the pre-verse jam, roughly minutes 3 - 12 of this Star. At lightning speed, ideas emerge and themes unfold. Out of this full-band dynamic an awesome groove develops, at once uncontrolled chaos and tight funky jam. Brilliant.

Bill's drums are louder than normal in the mix, a nice change in sound not heard on too many tapes. If you dig unique Dead music, this Dark Star is a must-hear.

It was Jerry's B-day and the band was definately feeling it. There are a couple of glitches early in the show (but what show doesn't?) and it clears up before you know it and starts to really sound good. The second set is so amazing and beautiful..worth it for that alone, but listen to the whole show...it's a good one.

This show is worth the download if only for the Dark Star > El Paso > Eyes > Dew segment. This portion was remastered by GDH host David Gans and sounds spectacular! The feel in the early portion of Dark Star is similar to the great jam before Wharf Rat in the 7/27/73 soundcheck just five days earlier, and the energy is just great throughout. Also, the mix seems to be switched, as if you're sitting at Billy's drums with Jerry and the ride cymbal to the right and Bobby, Keith, and the hi-hat on the left... which is great for air drumming while driving (not the stop-n-go sort)... not that I condone that sort of thing. =)