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Grateful DeadGrateful Dead Live at Laguna Seca Recreation Area on 1988-07-29 (July 29, 1988)

Collection: : GratefulDead
Band/Artist: Grateful Dead
Date: July 29, 1988 (check for other copies)
Venue: Laguna Seca Recreation Area
Location: Monterey, CA

Source: Aud CM-> DAT-> CDR-> EAC w/correct offsets using Secure Mode w/C2 (Plextor UW)-> SHN (MKW)
Keywords: Live concert

Description

Iko Iko, Walkin' Blues, Candyman, Queen Jane Approximately, Althea, Blow Away, Cassidy-> Deal China Cat Sunflower-> Crazy Fingers-> I Know You Rider-> Playin' In The Band-> Drums-> Space-> The Wheel-> Gimme Some Lovin'-> Believe It Or Not-> Sugar Magnolia, E: Black Muddy River

Individual Files

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Downloaded 92,200 timesReviews
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Reviewer: jacuzzi - - October 17, 2009
Subject: whaaaa......
anyone who has any complaints on mp3 conversion...lossless needs to go make a phat peanut butter and jelly sandwich and thank the vapors that this even exists. I live right up the road from Laguna Seca, and was'nt at this show. Sweet. thankyou whoever pulled this off and delivered a crisp gift. Bruce in Salinas

Reviewer: Comes a Time - - August 13, 2009
Subject: Gotta Love Monterey
I was at all three shows campin out. Good times and a great show. Playin' is a definite audio fractal if there ever was one. CHeck it out. Brent also broke out "Gentlemen start your engines" on Sunday I believe. All in all a great trifecta of days.

Reviewer: MattMan_video - - July 29, 2009
Subject: Converting lossless to lossy
"Can anyone tell me why some uploaders do not want
their shows/music to be converted to Mp3 format?
Please try to give easy explanation. Thanks"

The issue is that seeders do not want their lossless source to be re-seeded as an mp3 lossy source. I convert to mp3 for personal ipod use only.

Reviewer: Thad - - July 28, 2009
Subject: Distorted
Agree with those that question the kind of source this is. However, disagree with all the praise about the quality. To my ears it's distorted - too much clipping.

Beyond that, some good stuff. But 1988 . . . just can't get into it, as a whole. Lacks the energetic sparkle of '87 and the incredible 'reniassance' vibe of the best of '89. '88 to me is about breaking in the new songs and otherwise pretty much just mailing it in.

This show does exceed expectations, though.

Reviewer: Sir-Mix-Alot - - June 3, 2009
Subject: Good .mp3 stream, crappy .shn files
The mp3 version sounds pretty good, but when I downloaded the .shn files, almost every song has massive distortion. Sounds like the recording levels maxed out in several spots in the source recording. If you stream the .mp3, it is a good "Audience" recording, but a little distorted and overloaded in spots. Good performance from 'da Boys.

Reviewer: majordomo - - May 19, 2009
Subject: playin in the jam
yea--the playing in the band absolutely dissolves into perfect chaos. as avant as anything. ever. too bad David Murray or Ornette Coleman weren't sitting in on this one.

Reviewer: Augy - - April 29, 2009
Subject: Rare stuff !
Can't sneeze at this one !

Reviewer: spikedriver - - April 2, 2009
Subject: 2nd set, set the tone
Awesome power and clarity in this recording is phenomenal considering the vast open air venue.
China~Crazy~Rider~Playing UNIQUE

PLAYING IN THE BAND at one point reaches complete and utter CHAOS

Reviewer: FLDeadHead - - January 17, 2009
Subject: Again the power of phil
Doesn't really matter SBD or Aud.. It is here and it is good. Phil drops bombs all over this one.. Add it too your collection.

Reviewer: deadza - - December 28, 2008
Subject: the best aud ever
we cant have boards but we can have this peace of the bolt to keep.Great set list and gig but the sound just cooks it give the taper a medal for this one i dont do reviews normaly but had to comment on this,I have been searching for a good aud and this is the very best.top stars

Reviewer: John Bouffard - - December 13, 2008
Subject: Crazy Fingers
Could be the best?I have to go listen to the Saratoga 85 again but I think this just bumped it.Thanks for the lead.

Reviewer: darazn1 - - December 12, 2008
Subject: Throw on the Headphones, Play it Loud!
Just listening to the China>Crazy>Rider.

I've heard this before.... always seemed disjointed to my ears.... until now.

Listen to PHil and the drums rumble their way into China Cat. They never let up.

Every verse of Crazy Fingers is handled with more confidence than most any anywhere; find another Crazy Fingers where the entire band NAILS the words and music!

The meaningful jamming is not based in length, but substance (Grateful Dead time). Check out how Phil and the drummers just lock in and stand the band upright in their psychedelic grooves.

This is a mean show, and I mean down and dirty. Phil owns here, and the band is overpowering. Consider how much higher is the energy of this concert above the usual, and that's the mellow side. They peak sharp and strong again and again. Get it!

Reviewer: television - - October 16, 2008
Subject: QUESTION
Can anyone tell me why some uploaders do not want
their shows/music to be converted to Mp3 format?
Please try to give easy explanation. Thanks

Reviewer: ettk44 - - September 12, 2008
Subject: Great SBD
Obviously a SBD, and a nice one at that. Five million stars.

Reviewer: stober - - September 11, 2008
Subject: This is a SBD with an audience recording patches
I've had this in my Dead collection since 92. This is a SBD recording with audience audio patches. Def not a 100% audience recording. I'm glad it's labled an audience recording so folks can still download it and not just stream it.

Reviewer: laptap3r - - August 15, 2008
Subject: Not a Healy FM
Opening one of the decoded tracks in Cool Edit, then switching to spectral view, shows frequencies consistently going into the 22.05 khz range, rather than peaking at 16 khz as you would expect for an FM. I tested this out by opening up a confirmed Healy FM (not knowing if it's possible to tweak an FM signal above 16 khz) and it clearly peaks at 16 khz. So the mystery continues...

Either way, this is one helluva recording.

Reviewer: cringle - - July 5, 2008
Subject: Vintage 88
Wow. A gem in an off year. And one of the best quality AUDs out there

Reviewer: Rings&Bells - - May 30, 2008
Subject: Quality Stuff
The sound quality of this recording is killer for an audience, as good if not better than many of the soundboards here. Some memorable moments China>Crazy>Rider is a highlight, as is the Sugar Mag. One of the few Drums>Space that has kept my attention and a beautiful encore with Black Muddy River. Overall 5 star sound quality, 4 star show. Great for the late '80s.

Reviewer: Zaorish - - March 18, 2008
Subject: Wow...1st half of second set kicks ass
The China>Crazy>Rider>Playin is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Really a beautiful sequence, played with love and special attention by the band. It makes this show a real keeper for me.

Reviewer: iamthatiamnaught - - November 28, 2007
Subject: The Day I Discovered That LOVE Truly Exists!
Camped out all three days and went to all three shows. The all-night jams and dancing in Jerry-Ville - INCREDIBLE! I Wish To Thank the twin girls who led me from my seething hatred into the Everlasting Arms of the Godess up on the hill in the field after the show on 7-29-88... Thanks to all my friends who put up with my sexual energy in the Winebago trip back to Oakland (and sorry, dude about my inability to keep from seducing your girlfriend!). MUCH LOVE TO EVERYONE! This Was A Show To Remember! The Wind Actually blew the sound around at times (I'll see if this recording catches that!) --- Jerry F.

Reviewer: rockislandrebel - - September 4, 2007
Subject: gooney birds
amazing energy at this show! remember the fog like it was yesterday, can feel the mist on my face!

Reviewer: Burnt Rich - - July 29, 2007
Subject: Holy Cow!!!! Believe it or Not..................
Top Secret aud sound quality--China>Crazy>Rider!!!! I just happened upon this one---it is a GO!!! Hey Seattlehead---I live up in Twisp in the Methow Valley--just got back from Fremont-Ballard 10 minutes ago---Howdy!

Reviewer: SeattleHead - - July 23, 2007
Subject: Because
Had to give it a 5. Agree with others -- sounds like a board. But the 5 is as much for the playing (and the playin') as it is for the sound. This show sings. There's a reason it's been downloaded almost 30,000 times. ENJOY!

Reviewer: JohnCesano - - May 22, 2007
Subject: My first show!
Thank you for having this show available here. I went to Laguna Seca 88 for my first Dead experience. This was my first show. I camped and caught all three shows at the venue. Great show, great three shows. I was changed forever. Been there, done that, got the tattoo. Bobby was wonderful, screaming. Jerry was God, brilliant guitar and vocals. Brent's Hammond was moving. Phil delivered thunderous bass. Bill and Mickey were awesome. Loved the show, and thrilled to find a copy this clean. Again, thanks!

Reviewer: laptaper - - January 11, 2007
Subject: Two words for the taper - okay, six :-)
" T H A N K Y O U ! "
and
" W H A T I S Y O U R S E C R E T ? "

8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D 8*D

Reviewer: Dead Surfer - - January 1, 2007
Subject: Best Aud.
This show has an excellent recording and great setlist. I don't usually save aud. recordings but this is a great sounding show. Please do yourself a favor and get this one!

Reviewer: grateful kev - - December 27, 2006
Subject: is this really a aud recording ??????
this show sounds really good for a aud download now
well worth it for the quality and its an excellent show too
7-30-1988 is also just as good

Reviewer: nunnov - - December 14, 2006
Subject: ALTHEA!
i heard this althea on a grateful dead hour in 1995, and it rocked me. later i realized that i'd taped only the last bit of it, and didn't know which show it was from. thanks to the grateful dead hour site, and archive, i now know where to go to find my favorite althea of all time. jerry's playing in the last guitar solo is off the charts. i've not heard any other althea where he evokes such pain & loss in the end jam. otherwise, this show sparkles for the delicate & spooky crazy fingers.

Reviewer: unclejohnnyd - - July 23, 2006
Subject: Sounds great
This was one of my first tapes I ever got, right after 5-8-77, 4-15-78, and a mixed tape of the Fillmore 69 run. Anyway...

A friend of mine was there and allways spoke of how Phils bass felt bouncing off everyone's bodies. You can tell hearing this that it's no joke.

This is definately not a SBD, you can hear people talking BUT the presence of all the instruments is so out front it sounds very much like a matrix to me ( which personally I think make for THE best sounding Dead mixes ).

Whatever, one of the best 80's shows by far and probably the best playing jam after 74.

Reviewer: JackStrawFromWichita - - June 29, 2006
Subject: Download this Aud
Sound is great on this - some have claimed it may be a soundboard, but either way it is well worth the download.

The one time china>fingers>rider is worth the download alone, but the Playin also stands out, as well as the dark and deep space, which sounds like a plane crash towards the end.

This was the first time I'd heard Believe it or Not, and I'd like to hear that one some more.

Reviewer: cousinkix1953 - - June 29, 2006
Subject: I Needed A Miracle
We got to this show, with tickets supplied by a local FM radio station. This Friday afternoon concert had no openers and a smaller crowd. More than enough room for everybody.

The first set was comprised of Grateful Dead standards. The second set is one for the books. China Cat>Crazy Fingers>Rider sandwich was never heard again. Believe it or Not was a new Hunter-Garcia song. This Playing is on the So Many Road BOX SET.

There were no more Laguna Seca shows after 1988. Idiots, who camped in a US ARMY firing range, got the Grateful Dead banned by the county parks commission. Thanks, a$$holes.

This could be one of Healy's low power FM "in house" recordings if it isn't a board tape.

Don't complain about the minor defects here. The Laguna seca 87 audience tapes are nothing but distortion peaks, from the beginning to the end...

Reviewer: DandyBear - - June 28, 2006
Subject: Excellent Show!
Just finished listening to this and its a keeper for sure. I'm rating this a 5 to compensate for another one of "jboyaquar" idiotic reviews.

4.5/5 sound
4.35/5 performance

Reviewer: dmilks - - April 18, 2006
Subject: 7-29-88
Great sounding AUD except for the peaks that get a wee bit distorted. I remember this AUD floating around before the internet days, minus the distorted peaks.

Reviewer: jboyaquar - - January 13, 2006
Subject: Worthy mostly for the 1st half of the Second Set
1st Set: A steadying "Iko" marches us into a three day stand in Monterey? Where is this location in relation to...? A minimalist little stuck in the muck "Walkin Blues." Brent's hammond makes up for the stickiness. Boy, those drummers sure are pronouncing their instruments during "Candyman." Some nice notes, but adds to the 'dazy' feel of show. "Queen Jane" is tired and Bobby's singing is shoddy. "Althea" is consistent to the show, that is to say, deliberate drumming and professional playing lacking that 'spark.' Despite Brent's best efforts during the coda of "Blow Away" this feels bland. Where's the harmonizing help? "Actually, I think we take longer now between songs than we did at the beginning, what do you think? (Phil) Wow, yes, lower Brent's mic at beginning of "Cassidy." Standard performance til the static-y final build towards the climax in early 6's...its chaos fits the increasing cresendo so it does compel. "Deal" fits the mold for a decent set-closer. It's dirty and not amazingly tight but gets the job done.

2nd Set: Who could deny a "China" offering? The song works but the transition to jammy is filled with small mistakes and awkward timings. The jam remains on a noodling level because the intent is to venture into much different territory, "Crazy." Jerry's voice sounds too loud, but some lovely end notes precede the dissembling as they allow Jerry to introduce a path back on "Rider"'s road. They could have milked the intro longer, but oh well...it's a strong version. Concluding nicely, they translate into a Phillerific "Playin." Yes to total 'funhouse' breakdown during the seven and eights which come off as twisted as discombotulating film techniques of late sixty films. Total Acid-fuck. Reprise starts up around 9:20., and it's a full turn-around dissolving into "Drums." ("Reprise" should have been more triumphant.) Anyways, "Drums/Space" are a congrous worthy experience until the notes ground themseleves for "The Wheel." Not a rocker, Jerry directs this version to more thoughtful levels, the depths of which I hold to your discretion. "Gimme" has momentum but someone's guitar is screeching. "Believe" is just fine. "Sugar" ain't much better due to lyric gaffes and a lack of pacing.

Tonight we encore an appropriately sticky-resigned, "Black Muddy."

2 4/5th stars, would have been 2 4/5ths without 'Rider' and 'Playin'

Reviewer: East Coast - - October 14, 2005
Subject: Sweet show!
A really sweey show with some smokin' jams. Also, "Believe It Or Not" which was not played that often is nice to hear. I will say that the song alot like "Wake Up and Go Home". The only down fall of this recording is that it is taped too loud and heavier jams get distorted. All in all if you can get by that it is a good show.

Reviewer: ericazwell - - September 11, 2005
Subject: It was hot
I'm so glad that I have found this show. It was so freakin' hot and dusty that I watched the second set from a hill over looking the venue. Couldn't believe that they tossed Crazy Fingers between China Rider. Out of my mind. Outstanding show.

Reviewer: Dylanstubs - - May 11, 2005
Subject: Happy birthday to me
This was my 21st birthday show. Of course the 2nd set pre-drums was all for me. And half the P.A. went down during Drums as Healy dropped the octave at the same time Mickey laid into Home Plate. Very funny to watch Dan waving at the soundboard, and Mickey out of his drunken skull paying absolutely no attention. And this recording appears to be a SBD.

Reviewer: MindBender65 - - May 10, 2005
Subject: HEY NOW!
This is an incredible aud...if it really is an aud! yeah, this is nice. If you dont get this show Im gonna set yo tail on fyio.

Reviewer: birdsgosouth - - April 7, 2005
Subject: Flipped
I can't believe this show is not more heavily downloaded and hyped.
The pre-drums part of the 2nd set is out & out destruction. Granted, first set is rather stock as is the post-drums, but c'mon people, this has the most wicked 40 minutes of music the dead did in 1988. Without question, 5 stars.

Reviewer: shed your skin - - February 5, 2005
Subject: This is by far the best audience tape ever!
Without a doubt in my mind, I can confidently say there is no way this is an audience...This is patched straight from the soundboard! Its crystal clear! Of course, I have yet listened to the show in its entirety, but rather felt I needed to inform the public of this gargantuan error, upon hearing the first notes of Iko; which I might add is both colorful, and playful. The Playin from this show appears on disc 4 or 5 of the So Many Roads box set, and truly is awe-inspiring. See for yourself.

Reviewer: smarcus - - November 14, 2004
Subject: Men from the Boys...
I was standing next to John Barlow at the soundboard when the band went into Playing... right toward the end of it Barlow looked at me and said, "This will seperate the men from the boys!"

Reviewer: qubikino - - November 11, 2004
Subject: Happy birthday
My birthday show as well. Really amped playing, especially in the pre drums.

Reviewer: Duanebase - - November 5, 2004
Subject: Playin
the real gem of this show is Playin , short but insane!!

Notes

Aud CM-> DAT-> CDR-> EAC w/correct offsets using Secure Mode w/C2 (Plextor UW)-> SHN (MKW); encore is different AUD source; see notes in info file; via Andy Hayum with thanks to Ken Doughty, Karen Lutz Benbrook