Internet Archive's in-browser audio with external links "theater" requires JavaScript to be enabled. It appears your browser does not have it turned on. Please see your browser settings for this feature.

Grateful Dead Live at Cleveland Music Hall on 1981-03-02

by Grateful Dead

Publication date: 1981-03-02 ( check for other copies)

Topics: Live concert

Collection: GratefulDead

Band/Artist: Grateful Dead

Resource: DeadLists Project

Shakedown Street-> Minglewood Blues, Dire Wolf-> Cassidy, Althea-> El Paso, Jack A Roe, Lazy Lightning-> Supplication, Don't Ease Me In-> Promised Land Ramble On Rose, Playin' In The Band-> China Doll-> Drums-> Playin' In The Band-> The Wheel-> Around & Around-> Johnny B. Goode, E: U.S. Blues

Notes

Bob Wagner Nak 700's> TC-D5> MC> DAT> CDR; via Paul B; Seeded to etree by Willy

Addeddate: 2004-04-26 11:45:29

Discs: 0

Has_mp3: 1

Identifier: gd81-03-02.wagner.munder.9511.sbeok.shnf

Lineage: Nak 700's> TC-D5> MC> DAT> CDR

Location: Cleveland, OH

Shndiscs: 2

Source: Audience Recording: Nak 700's

Transferred by: Bob Wagner

Type: sound

Venue: Cleveland Music Hall

Year: 1981

plus-circle Add Review

comment
Reviews

Reviewer: TheBrownAcid - - April 7, 2020
Subject: Solid show

The recording is 5 star. The band is tight as usual. Coulda been a 5 star show but never really blasts off. Sounds like Jerry's getting worked up at around the 6 minute mark of Shakedown and he does some nice pluckin over the sweet beat laid down by the rhythm section. But he never takes off. Same is true for the rest of the songs.

Still, a real nice listen. I downloaded it. The playing here is 5 star for any other band. Its only a 4 star for the Dead who set a ridiculously high standard for themselves.

Reviewer: lilrichwhiteboy - - May 15, 2013
Subject: The Playing > Jamming Is My Favorite In This Show ...

This is a very nice sounding AUD. I would assume it was an FOB from the quality. Yah, I guess I have to revise my review too (you smoked me out Auggie). Hadn't heard the Shakedown in twenty years. Pretty enemic is right. Lazy > Supp is very nicely worked out though. And the rest of the show is decent. Three star average for it. But my five stars is for the PITB. I'm with the Pro. I love the Playing > running in and out, here and there. The Playing > Jamming is so fabulous, I spliced out the China Doll so I could hear all of it uninterrupted (I can hear the complete-ists all gasping now). And never been all that thrilled about R&R > J.B.Goode endings. I dumped the first set and have had the second set for ages. As a poor student back in the bad old days of 5+ gen SBDs or AUDs, you had to have a good reason for keeping anything on [then] expensive tape.

Had a lot of fun at the show. Got a really nice shot of The Boyz in blue shadow and Steal Yo Face logo to be published some day.

Reviewer: njpg - - March 3, 2013
Subject: --

Sounds like it's getting off to a great start, but kind of loses its way somewhere in the 2nd set. Not bad at all, just unremarkable. I think the recording is great, though.

Reviewer: 80sdeadchild - - July 12, 2011
Subject: Appropriate opener for the location!

I'm a Clevelander. There's a saying "You gotta be tough" to be from Cleveland. It's a city of hardworking, honest, beer drinking, sports fanatics, who also happen to love music. Any band that was up and coming, or established from the 60's on made there stop in Cleveland. A town that has seen better times, even in '81, it was hurting from economic situation. But the people are hardy and friendly. Moreover, they're cultured. Dignity and integrity are part of the scene, just like it was for Jerry's musical style. They don't sell out, or at least it has to be under their own terms. Shakedown was the Dead's nod to the Clevelanders. The Dead knew they had (have) a strong following in the Buckeye region. And they knew the people who live there are groovin' heads. I've been in Cali now for 20 yrs. but the Cleveland Dead scene was just as rich as it is out here. Actually, maybe even more so. CLEVELAND ROCKS!

Reviewer: creekfreek - - May 4, 2006
Subject: playing!!!

If you like the '81 variant, and I assume you do if you're reading this, this show, while a bit muddy and far from perfect is completely listenable and worth it for the Playin' nugget nestled in set 2. 3 stars for sound quality, 4 for the show itself(exemplary for the year), and 5 for Playin'! How's that for nailing it down. Viva 1981!

Reviewer: early 80's meltdown - - April 6, 2006
Subject: Playin' in the Music Hall

The Playin>China>jam>d/s>Playin classic '81 vintage. nice jamming at the 7.5 min mark in PITB. Jerry sounds like he's feeling no pain on Althea. Probably a pretty sweet venue, I like the theaters/music halls they played in the late 70's and very early 80's.

nice pull Bob *****
ps love the yells and Indian calls during Drums>Space sounded like a blast in the Hall.

Reviewer: David Bolewski - - February 1, 2006
Subject: High quality audience recording!

Allmost sounds like a SBD. A keeper.

Reviewer: hippiefrombirth - - November 12, 2005
Subject: fetus remembers show

I was in my mothers stomach at this show while she was grooving and dancing around. And I swear I can remeber it. Awesome show. Much better than the second night in my opion. I'm giving these to my mom as a birthday present in about 2 weeks and I know she will love it, so I would like to thank the dude who took the time to record and post the show, thanks much love bro.

Reviewer: GWG62 - - June 13, 2005
Subject: GOT ME HOOKED!

This was my first show...from the 3rd row center in the Cleveland Music Hall...I was HOOKED from Shakedown on....Now..25 years later...I can see why it was the first of several hundred shows since...Clear, clean, Phil's bass dropping an occasional sonic quark...OUTSTANDING! Mix and sound are great given the test of time...

Reviewer: Ron Keyser - - January 9, 2005
Subject: Quality?

Did the conversion from DAT To CD have a problem?
Sounds like the band is in slow motion. Like a 48 to 44.1 conversion mistake????

Reviewer: PlaynnDBnd - - December 10, 2004
Subject: So-So show..

The Shakedown is anemic at first but turns into a nice groove. I also thought the Cassidy was pretty strong but the Lazy Light./Supplication was sloppy.
The Playin' that threads its way throught the second set is good, as is the transition into China Doll. However, everything after the Playin' Reprise is ho-hum. Nothing groundbreaking here. Bob Wagner did a nice job of taping as there are no real cuts and the sound is up close, heavier on Phil than Brent.

Reviewer: KindRainbowBrother - - August 23, 2004
Subject: Did We Download The Same Show

I agree with the previous reviewer, the band sounds anemic at best. When they sing Nothing Shaken they weren't just talking about on the street. I mean it is okay but I think I have heard much better shows. The sound isn't even that great. I like to give the boys the benefit of the doubt, but unless you were at this show, or it is the last one you need to download to fill out your collection, you might want to take a pass for the time being. 2 stars.

Reviewer: auggie - - July 30, 2004
Subject: I Don't Get It

It's OK but the tempo seems slow at times. Playin is good but I've heard much better Shakedowns.

Reviewer: AgentOrange - - June 24, 2004
Subject: Camped out overnight in freezing cold ...

... the day tickets went on sale to get great seats for this show. We were in the first row of the balcony. Shakedown is sweet, as is the rousing Around > Johnny B Goode > US Blues finale.

Reviewer: dHazed - - May 8, 2004
Subject: Shaking not stirred

The shakedown is sick, worth the price of admission alone. The guys sound so good, and the recording makes you feel like your there surrounded by the music nice sound great AUD!

Reviewer: snap,pro - - April 28, 2004
Subject: not just

If I remember correctly, the Playin in the Band on this is one of my all-time favorites; I'm psyched to get a fresh recording of it

Reviewer: rbraybo - - April 28, 2004
Subject: I love this one...

Give the Shakedown a listen. It takes a bit to get rolling, but it's one of those spine chillers.

44,377 Views

18 Favorites

17 Reviews