Grateful DeadGrateful Dead Live at John F Kennedy Stadium on 1989-07-07 (July 7, 1989)

This audio is available in streaming format

Collection: GratefulDead
Band/Artist: Grateful Dead
Date: July 7, 1989 (check for other copies)
Venue: John F Kennedy Stadium
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Source: Soundboard
Lineage: (Healy Mix) SBD>MC>DAT>CDR
Keywords: Live concert

Description

Hell In A Bucket, Iko Iko, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, Memphis Blues, Loser, Let It Grow-> Blow Away Box Of Rain, Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain-> Scarlet Begonias, Estimated Prophet-> Standing On the Moon, Drums-> Jam-> The Other One-> Wharf Rat-> Turn On Your Love Light, E: Knockin' On Heaven's Door

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Reviewer: kmisner - - July 8, 2008
Subject: Wow!

This was my last in a long life of shows. I started seeing the band in 1978. By this year I had 3 kids and was deep in marriage and all that stuff. What a treat to have this as my last show with Jerry. I have seen many shows recently with Phil and Bobby but this one is etched in my memory. A truly hot day in Philly in all aspects.

God bless the Grateful Dead and thank you Jerry!!

Reviewer: Leafoflifer - - June 28, 2008
Subject: The day my life was changed

This was the first show for me.Stationed in the navy in Philly,some friends of mine talked me into going to this show.Not for the music,but for the recreational activities.While the recreation was every thing they said it would be....and more!!It was the music that changed my life.I had never listened to the Dead before.But from the very first notes of Hell in a Bucket...I GOT IT!!!I was hooked.I left Philly with a new song in my heart and was stationed in San Francisco. What a blessing that was,I saw as many shows as I could. I am forever changed and forever GRATEFUL.

Reviewer: CharlieMiller - - June 28, 2008
Subject: This is not a sbd

I can confirm that 100%

Reviewer: sydthecat2 - - June 15, 2008
Subject: True blue Dead!

I have had a superb audience of this show for many years but just checked out this Healy mix---well it actually sounds more aud. that sbd. but that's okay 'cause it sounds wonderful.

This is one of those all time great shows. Certainly one oftheir best stadium gig in this year and '90. Only Three Rivers in '90 gets close to this and even then the emotion of this show overwhelms it. I can feel this show when I listen to it and I wasn't there!

Truly inspiring. So many highlights I won't even mention them. We all know them. Okay! But just three. The SOTM deserves special mention as does the Scar>Fire. Lovelight is a special treat and it's how you can tell these guys were really on this night.

I know some people don't likesound the reminiscing reviews and just want the goods but they can kiss my ass. Many of the reviews here are deeply moving and make me feel like I'm still part of a great community as aoposed to a little downloader sitting at home with his finger on the "enter" button. And that's what it has always been about.

I saw Rich and Alpine this summer. The Alpines were great shows. Oddly "they" put out the Rich show for us. Not nearly as good as this one, Lemieux. Get with it, buddy! I wish I'd seen this one too.

In the fall I came to Philly to see them play the Spectrum and it met every expectation. I loved the crowd and the people I met. Many kind moments. There were a few key places to see the Dead and this Philly was one of them. Thank you for a real good time!

The freakiest thing was the lack of a solid Shakedown St. but I was told it was over at the JFK lot and we walked over. I could see what looked like a semi-demolished stadium in the distance in the darkness looking like the hull of a shipwreck. It spooked me and we decided to just head back to the motel.

Love you Philly! Many wonderful shows from both these venues.

Reviewer: deadfore - - May 18, 2008
Subject: unreal

This show changed my life...An experience that I'll take to my death bed. Truly amazing.

Reviewer: FrankFoster - - April 24, 2008
Subject: Check out

the big brain on "bugger". Bugger if you did not write down a note for yourself about that "girl on the lawn ;)" then you do certainly have an incredible long-term memory. I do remember it now, it was captivating, as it unfolded in front of everyone in the stands of JFK. It was a situation where all of the deadheads worked together to figure out a solution to a problem and then implement the agreed upon solution (all of this while in various states of consciousness). It started out really funny "hey look at that" but then quickly became "hey she is taking up prime dancing space, she must be moved!"

Anyway on to the other parts of the show. When I was there I actually did not realize how great this show really was musically. The atmosphere of the crowd, and the extras with the intermission voices kept me in a constant altered state. So many nuggets at this show - so to name a few - Scarlet/Fire - awesome - Loser one of the most solid ever (very jammy). But the Blow Away alone is a must listen. It was actually the 1st time I ever heard it live - along with a lot of other people (and maybe the 1st time I really listed to the song). It actually sounded as if the song ended once, and then we were all saying "wow, what a great Brent tune" but then suddenly back into a Brent directed show that got all of the heads involved. Everyone had their hands up in the air (and I do mean everyone) and I can say this is actually being true - along blows (away) maybe the first breeze of the day - it was trippy, people were looking at each other like "no, well ok maybe".

4 1/2 big to 5 stars for all of music but for the complete jfk experience - 5 stars.

Reviewer: JourneyHome - - April 8, 2008
Subject: Thank you EVERYONE!

Thank you of course to the band, thank you to the comments from the fans, thank you to the tapers and the up loaders and the mix doctors and the sharers, and blanks and postage people, friends, fans. Thank you JFK for falling down and being condemned, thank you god for a hot as ba**s day - thank you crowd for being pumped out of your minds (crazy from the heat) thank you to my brother who missed the exit and took a detour through the airport to get back to the stadium - (go to the airport, go to the airport) a town he grew up in - er ah where you going man....???

We were to the left of Jerry three rows up on the metal risers with the big screen and speakers in our face - and a very visible (life size) looking band - of course I lost my mind - on Let it Grow having been partial to Weather Report Suite for Years and I love shows that kick off with Hell in a Bucket, Iko, Iko is such good fun - what music should be, and Wharf Rat always gets me...everyone's comments bring back such lightning bolt memories - it was all there - the toxic waste drums with the half ass*d yellow tape sort of up and leaking.....

The maddening heat - the exhausted, going for it dance a thon - the rumor mill about the condition of the stadium - during the freakin'show - I think made people just dance harder in the stands..the closing venue atmosphere - the grab for bits and pieces of the stadium on the way out - somebody wrote he got clunked in the head with concrete and loved every minute of it - only in Philly, only in Philly - dead heads everywhere - wall to wall parking lots full of revelers coming, going, staying, looking for keys (LOL) - that's awesome. I always somehow walk straight back to the car - good directional skills - don't even check what row - you know - one year coming out of a dead show Jerry scrambled my tuning fork up so bad I couldn't find my damn car - a lot time and wandering went by - that whole summer until I went back to another show - I could never find my car in parking lots - I would just get outside the mall or whatever and just laugh - damn you Garcia - where's my car...and after the next show re-calibrated - I love the dead for stuff like that...

Back at JFK I had water to share and was greeted upon leaving the show by a desperate but happy, thirsty mini mob - A guy looked at me an hollered "water, water" at the top of his lungs (we had carried several jugs in and had a almost full one coming back out) a swarm of people turned - Boy did I hand that jug off fast - someone yelling "just give it to them." "Thank you, thank you - desert island stuff ...man we had fun, laughed at everything, slack jawed and amazed all day - at everything and everyone - including our moronic selves.

It was a riotous event, the band, the sun set - big fat orange, hazy sun going down - the Brent breeze it was all there - even that stupid plane flying over head - thank you everyone for this database - and those reminiscing I haven't had the old steal your face right off your head smile in a long, long, time -

other shows out here are doing the same thing for me - helping me to remember and I'm freakin' remembering, long term memory not as shot as the short term - WOW - what hot fun in the city, in the summer - I was blown away by how good this show was considering there were about 100,000 people there - and crazy open stadium acoustics but big time energy, big time sound system and big time fun - thank you EVERYONE! From the bottom of my heart.

Paul
Author - Journey Home

Reviewer: bugger - - April 5, 2008
Subject: PIG IN THE MUD!

Does any body recall the fat lady(the pig) that was sprawled out on the lawn as the Dead began the show? We were dead center about 5 or 6 rows back on the floor and the pig was passed out taking the space of about 5 people. Finnaly the crowd had enough tried to wake her but to no avail. So push came to shove and a group of people lifted her as she layed lifelessly proceded to bring her to the barrier between the crowd and the band and just dropped her down allowing much more dance room. Dont recall what happened to her after that but would not be surprised if she were still there. What a day!!!!

Reviewer: deerhunterswife - - February 26, 2008
Subject: WOW

Hearing that show again..... what a great time. My first and only Dead Show. Nearly a score later and the memories are as vivid as though it were yesterday. Thanks for the music to go with them.

Reviewer: PhillyPeacePipe - - February 15, 2008
Subject: Life Changing Show!!!

Every one of us heads has a show that was life changing. This is mine. I've never been the same since this show. My other two friends that I was with that day still say the same also.

This is the best show I've ever attended in all aspects. Crowd, music, set list, and most of all - The VIBE! What a vibe there was that day. This was my first outdoor GD show and the craziest crowd I was ever in. I mean it was insanity all day. It seemed like the Dead were f-ing with our heads. Of course, the 5 different kinds of paper we sampled before the show had a lot to do with it, but never-the-less me and my two friends were tinkering on the edge of insanity all day. To make things even stranger, we had a parapalegic in a wheel chair sitting behind us and partying with us just as hard as we were. It didn't seem like he was with anyone else. How did he get there??

Hornsby and the Range opened up and then the Dead came on as the sun was beginning its descent. As they played it seemed like the music was pulling the sun down. They amazingly ended their 1st set just as the sun dipped below the coliseum. What perfect timing.

The boys were really on this day too. Iko Iko had everyone doing a tribal like clap-chant thing and then came the best Rooster I've ever heard to this day and I'm not a big Rooster fan. But listen to the use of Jerry's MIDI on this. I thought it was me that day hearing it that way but listening back - it really was sounding like that. Whew! I wasn't losing my mind after all.
Bobby's screaming during Hell in a Bucket and Memphis Blues sent shivers through my nervous system that is still vibrating to this day.
Jerry sang a passionate Ramble On Rose while I watched a hippie chick do a swirling dance with a bottle of Vodka in one hand. How did she get that in??
Brent pours everything he has into Blow Away.

Does anyone remember the microphone stands on the stairways all around the coliseum that day? You had to literally walk around them to get to your seats. The whole first set we were wondering why they were there. Then at the intermission we found out. All those microphones came on and picked up thousands of conversations and relayed them out of the house PA. In turn, this sounded like a whirl wind of spirits flying around the coliseum. Did I mention that they were f-ing with our heads that day? It was like an Acid Test. I couldn't move. We were glued to our benches. So much for trying to get up to go and get a drink at intermission.

The 2nd set was just as stellar. I traveled through a hundred universes and dimensions that day which I still haven't fully returned from. I knew right then and there that I wasn't going to be the same from this day on and I'm not. In good way of course. When the last note of Knockin ended and the crowd started leaving, we sat there wondering - what the hell just happened here! We were STILL glued to our benches. In fact I think we were the very last ones to leave the coliseum. What normally would have been an hour train ride back home took us several hours as we kept getting off at the wrong stops.

Two days later we went to see The Who across the street at the Vet and would you believe I was still weirded out from that Dead show two days before. What an impact that show left and I'm still wondering - what the hell happened that day!!!

For those who weren't there, this is a Philly classic and every song here is top quality. It deserves 10 stars if I could give it.

Reviewer: dethwort - - February 13, 2008
Subject: Downloading...........HELP !!!

How would I download this audio. This was my 1st Dead show and I would really like to keep it in my private collection.

Reviewer: 4theFaithful - - January 20, 2008
Subject: The END od JFK superhot!!!!!!!!

Wow what a show, it was like the hottest day ever in the city. Many heads will tell you that this could have been the best show ever IHO.
I couldn't believe all the ppl that showed up. Every single parking lot for miles was full of heads.

PPl on the floor where holding up there tickets to sell to collectors because it was to be the last show at JFK. I also remember
ppl taking chunks of concrete home in their backpacks.

Lots of paper - I believe woodstocks I think"! wait I also think blue lighting bolts boy where they strong, lol.

THE BEST SCARLET FIRE EVER! Brent's Blow away in the first set "do you guys remember open up that fist , feel that breeze -oh my god this band was was insane- a breeze came by that no one in that huge concrete thing could not deny it to be true. Also does anyone remember the guy that jumped of the back of JFK during Wharf Rat(ill get up and fly aw***), they
said he bounced, and lived omg no joke. (I think RfDead is correct a Girl fell off and lived) correction

Shaman effect is a good way that darazn1 describes it. And being possible # uno show of the 80's period. VERY intense lot scene!!!! ppl where going across rt 95 to a public pool or somekind of pool in heards going in and out like a cattle drive every one was wondering where the water drenched ppl where coming from very strange.

My wife though the keys to our rabbit in the trash at the end of the night and we couldn't
get into our car - I said I bet you throw them away, we looked in trash there they were. OMFG.

Echoing what Emmell said- "Sweltering heat and high humidity in a crumbling venue. People laid out on the grass in various stages of dehydration"
he was not joking at all. I also remember getting up and going down into the stadiums food / drink/ rest room area, there where oil / hazardous barrels off to the side with just caution tape to keep you away from all the toxic waste and crumbled up junk. The JFK staff had a big fight with GD crew
and the philly fire department wanted it shut down at around 1-2 in the afternoon. that's when things started getting of the hook -80 90 thousand heads and your going to shut the place down "you cant do that"
all kinds of rumors of what was going to happen it was a real life soap opera. They deciding to let the show go on and one hell of a show it was. Out of the 85 -90 shows i caught
this was in my top three. 5 stars all the way many ppl where changed for life after this one included yours truly -
although RFK 90 was so similar and awesome too.
Wanna see Garcia one last time for real??? No joke- follow this holy grail and Make a night out of this show and your dreams
might just come true too, just beleive!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich-Amy-John-(Mark,rip)
rikki2001@verizon.net :)

Reviewer: rfdead - - January 14, 2008
Subject: Dylan

This was a great show to end JFK. That night some girl fell off of the top of the place and survived. Dylan played in 1987 and not at this show.

Reviewer: spring mountain high - - January 10, 2008
Subject: sol-eed

a very well played show from start to finish...highlights include the 'anatomy-lesson' blow away and a high energy scarlet/fire...just about every song played could be considered a very good version though, and if you like this period, then this is most def worth a listen

the mammoth horseshoe stadium was packed to the gills and the weather and the band were equally scorching...100,000 plus friends having nothing but fun and music on a hot summer's day

Reviewer: dancing phool - - January 9, 2008
Subject: dylan????

if i had my way
i would tare this old building down...
was'nt bob dylan involved in this?
i'll never forget the last song played at this dinosaur of a building......
but i swear it was part of the dylan and the dead tour
p.s. it sucks getting old

Reviewer: TreetopKite - - October 8, 2007
Subject: Bob's guitar???

Great show! Probably the best one I ever saw. BUT, listening to it now, as is way too common from this era, I don't hear Weir's guitar. Occasionally it pops up in the mix when it's absolutely necessary but otherwise it's not up in the mix - at least to my ear. This has always frustrated me.

One of the best shows of the 80's though.
Thanks.

Reviewer: citizenflyer - - September 4, 2007
Subject: Too bad encore wasnt "Brokedown Palace"

This was like my 11th show, having the seen Band for the first time at JFK in 87. 19, just graduated high school was time to really experience the Band and this show was definetly one of my best. Since me and my crew lived in the burbs, we didnt drive down but instead took the el and the subway, nothing really special about that except the ride home was alot of fun. Man it was hot that day, so hot that the new tie dye I bought for the occasion at CRITTERS (this would be my last tie dye by the way, never really liked them much although my GF at the time loved them)bled to my skin... I found this out when I decide to take the shirt off and put it on my head bandana like... looked cool to me. Anyway the show rocked and so did JFK!!!!! Literally that place feel apart that night. The best memories were the intermission wave that seemed to go on forever plus I couldnt take my eyes of the dancers down on the floor during the first set. As to JFK... The Eagles had played in the vet since it opened in the early 70s.... The Who played the vet that summer, not JFK.... The Stones did a few sound checks in JFK but the city said to them you will have to play the vet.. The dead refused to, thankfully play at the vet... So the Dead not only closed Winterland 11 years earlier they also closed JFK and thank God I was there to witness it. As for this recording, I have listened to the whole thing thru my comp speakers and it sounds wonderful... Wish I could DL it and listen to it on the home system... But we can thank BOB for that not happening... Oh well..

Reviewer: grateful kev - - July 26, 2007
Subject: I REALLY MISS JFK Stadium

ONE of my first shows..... I Also saw Pink Floyd And the Stones
there IN the early 80's . One of the best dead shows i ever saw.....
the second set was awesome...... thanks for all the memories

Reviewer: peakshead - - July 26, 2007
Subject: peakshead

A great night. i think the Who played there one or two nights prior, then the boys, and then they pretty much never used this building for anything. I think the Philadelphia Eagles moved to the Vet, and I don't know if JFK is even there anymore. Very humid night, and the music just f l o w e d !!!

Reviewer: spyder9 - - July 10, 2007
Subject: This show rocks!!!

Probably the greatest GD show I ever witnessed. Roaring hot day in the 90's.... out on the pavement. 2nd set should get its own Liquid Blue shirt by itself. Man, I had a blast that day in Philly!! G' bless JFK stadium!

Reviewer: redeemed - - July 7, 2007
Subject: Real Love! Preach it Brent!

Outstanding performance! This has to be considered one of the top fifty performances of their career, and definitely one of the ten best of the Eighties. Truly a pleasure to listen to!

Reviewer: johnnycomelately - - June 27, 2007
Subject: big stadiums

everyone talks about small venues but they really always seemed to bring it to the big stadium stops in New York and Philadelphia etc.

the recordings are often better also

Reviewer: flatthe3rd - - June 18, 2007
Subject: hot,hot and hotter

This was a smokin hot day in just about every respect. The crowd outside before the show and inside during was as pumped as Ive ever seen. The band was hot the whole day. First and only scarlet fire I ever saw. Been to shows from carrier dome in october 84 through the meadowlands in 94. This one was as good as any i ever saw or heard

Reviewer: darazn1 - - May 23, 2007
Subject: 5 star performance

Just read Phil's book "Searching for the Sound." According to him, Summer tour '89 was the last tour for quite a while when jerry was clear of the H.

I just checked out the Scarlet>Fire and the Other One>Wharf Rat>Lovelight. I don't know why this show has not been released. It might even be the single greatest Dead show of the '80's. The band is confident, fully communicative, rocking and psychedelic at the same time, with the shaman effect in full swing.

The recording definitely sounds like an audience. There's some weird level adjustments in the middle of the Scarlet jam. Nonetheless, I hope this show sees the light of day.

When my friends might ask me, "what is a grateful dead show like," I would like to be able to share this one with them. This is music that dances in the stratosphere of the spirit with confidence, precision, communication, and awareness. This is not a meditation, this is a concert. The Dead doing what they do the very best that they do it.

Reviewer: EdgeHead - - April 26, 2007
Subject: another Blow Away comment

I haven't heard every Blow Away but I've never heard Garcia play slide on it before. This era had them transitioning in BA really well, usually by Garcia. Pretty sweet.

Reviewer: erictw83 - - April 26, 2007
Subject: 89 rocks

Unfortunately i wasnt at the show given that i was only six years. Fantastic show, 89 rocks

Reviewer: JamminJerome - - April 23, 2007
Subject: another fine show from the latter half of 1989

Is it just me, or does every single show from the summer and fall of 1989 rock from start to finish? This is yet another example that proves that the boys were not done after 1977.

Listen for a nice Blow Away, a smoking Scarlet Fire, a fine Knockin' encore, and one of the finer SOTM's. Of course the SOTM is nice because way too many of them occured in the last few years and featured Jerry's dying voice. This one sounds nice, and while Jerry ain't perfect, he's pretty good.

As far as the AUD thing is concerned...this is a Healy matrix. I don't know much about sound/recording/etc., but I'm pretty sure that Healy matixes are pretty reliable and true. but I'm no expert

Reviewer: mikelieman - - April 14, 2007
Subject: This sounds like an AUD to me

@chi11,

I concur. Sounds like shotguns on a *tall* stand in the center of the pit.

The soundfield of the audience is too stable to be a board. Very Nice tape in any event.

Reviewer: yertle1302 - - July 25, 2006
Subject: UNREAL.... One of the Best Shows I Ever Saw

10 yards from the stage, very hot day.... cooling off in the water fountains pouring off the sides of the field then back to the stage...What a memory!!!

Reviewer: TheGuppie - - June 19, 2006
Subject: Blown Away !!!

This was one of favorite 'stadium' shows, by far! 1989 - good time, good year. Just got back from Foxboro and Buffalo, luckingly, at the time I was living just outside of Philly - 1 hr. - away from JKF (yes, I miss it !! )

The Other One-> Wharf Rat-> was great too - a hot day, hot first set (Let It Grow and awasome Blow Away !!!!!!!) (even the band was Blown Away by Brent) - perfect 2nd set ... lot's of good recorings of this were around just after the show as we had a few day break before going Alpine ( I had to miss a few shows and kinda finish college)

One of my personal 'top - tens ' .... Did I mention Scarlet -> Fire

Blew me away.. ...

Reviewer: butrflychsr - - May 9, 2006
Subject: my first show

i have tears of joy in my eyes, it has been such a long time....so glad i found this site. i am glad it really was as good as i remember!!

Reviewer: PFflyerkid - - April 29, 2006
Subject: Wow...never heard this one before

Went straight to the Scarlett/Fire and was not disappointed. Jerry is steady and hypnotic and the weave with Brent is nice. No lag or loss of energy into Fire here either. Everyone's chuggin'. Jerry's got the hand-crank machine gun thing going in Fire. It just keeps comin' at ya. What a great song Hunter /Hart wrote. One of my favorites of many that I interpret as speaking to the Deadhead experience. In this case, all those long distance runners on tour.

Reviewer: ZanyRamorski - - April 13, 2006
Subject: Sum Sum Summertime!

This was my last show after 13 years of East Coast touring and what a freekin'BLAST! Three of us crammed in the front seat of a little Pick up truck, bounced up from Northern Va. The vibe was really intense all around the Just Freekin' Kiddin' Stadium. Dosey Doed and got lost. Just by chance I ran into my brother who was fresh out of Unc's Navy.
We were right up front for Bruuuuce who looked to be 20 ft tall with his squeeze box. Jerry looked even taller!
The next day we trucked down to Merriweather and caught ABB. Both days were totally out of control.

Reviewer: budfox - - March 26, 2006
Subject: Summer 89'

This summer this show are legendary JFK was a brutaly hot day and the the whole vibe was nuts. Epic Powerhouse performance. This recording really puts you right in the thick of it.

Reviewer: dmilks - - February 8, 2006
Subject: 7/7/89

One of the best of summer 89.

However, I still think the 3-26-90 Blow Away smokes this one.

The Scarlet Jam with Jerry and Brent reading eachother's minds is pretty neat. Lovelite is excellent too, with a false ending very much like 6-14-91. I only got to see the Alpine shows from this tour, but these guys were ON for this whole east/midwest tour. Check out the new "Truckin Up To Buffalo" DVD (7/4/89). Great show too, as well as the "Downhill from Here" video release of 7-17-89.

Reviewer: merlinpa - - December 19, 2005
Subject: My First Show also

I remember that day vividly.It was a very beautiful warm clear day. The energy in the parking lot and in the show was intense.When they broke into aiko aiko, the crowd went crazy and the beach balls went flying. The whole stadium was doing a giant wave, I have been to a ton of concerts, but never ever seen anything like that. The band and the crowd were just feeding off one another.

The sound in the stadium was the best that I have ever heard.

Thanks guys for a GREAT SHOW.

Reviewer: merlinpa - - December 19, 2005
Subject: My First Show also

I remember that day vividly.It was a very beautiful warm clear day. The energy in the parking lot and in the show was intense.When they broke into aiko aiko, the crowd went crazy and the beach balls went flying. The whole stadium was doing a giant wave, I have been to a ton of concerts, but never ever seen anything like that. The band and the crowd were just feeding off one another.

The sound in the stadium was the best that I have ever heard.

Thanks guys for a GREAT SHOW.

Reviewer: sid weiss - - December 5, 2005
Subject: MY 1ST SHOW

I GOT A LATE START BUT THIS WAS MY 1ST SHOW ...AND JFK'S LAST CONCERT...LATER THE STADIUM WAS TORN DOWN

Reviewer: greggdavis - - December 3, 2005
Subject: This was my first show

And I remember it well. It set the stage for 5 more years of three tours a year, and all the great shows up and down the Eastern Seaboard. I grew up in philly, but didn't start seeing shows until 1989, when I was in college in Ithaca, NY. We could travel to shows like this one and crash at my parent's house - crazy times! I'm so glad to have found this show today, and this whole huge resource! I had just recorded a copy of this show onto discs from my old cassette copy - this sound quality is excellent..Thank you!!!

Reviewer: chi11 - - November 15, 2005
Subject: This sounds like an AUD to me

Agree with all the comments about the quality of the performance. This is one of my alltime faves.

But this recording sounds more like a very good AUD, not a board/aud mix. It's most apparent in the vocals and snares and cymbals, where you get some of the telltale phasing effects.

Lotsa taper made excellent recordings of this show because the sound at JFK was so huge and you basically were recording in the free field. I was right behind the taper section for the entire show and it sounded pretty much like this tape does. I'd speculate it shotguns from the section pointed right at the stacks (comparing it to the FOB copies I have), but that's just a guess.

It *could* be a board mix, but I'm a tad skeptical. Great sounding tape though.

Reviewer: stilldead77 - - November 8, 2005
Subject: A Classic Show.

Dear Deadheads, this show is truly awesome ÃÂ down load it now. This show is stellar from start to finish, lots of energy, love and Pure Jerry. A Classic Show. This site is amazing, I feel like I am 14 again listening to my first bootlegs and the Dead Hour.

Reviewer: Elvis The King - - September 30, 2005
Subject: Blow Away Blew Me Away

This is not only a 1989 gem, it is a Grateful Dead historic gem. As Master Reviewer Gravy 77 states below: ÃÂI have probably listened to this show 200 times and it kicks my ass every time.ÃÂ Usually I make one CD of highlights per concert. For this 7-7-89 I have recorded every song on 2 CDÃÂs except box of Rain, drums, and ÃÂjam.ÃÂ Why? Because every song is very very good and half of them are great. Standouts are Hell, Scarlet, Fire, Other One, Wharf , Lovelight, HeavenÃÂs Door, and huge big wow what was that and why didnÃÂt it happen all the time for Blow Away. Blow Away blew me away. I hope that version appears elsewhere but I have not heard it. See Excellent Reviewer Brother Brent (below) for further insight into Blow Away. I totally agree. I never gave Brent his due. Now that I have access to all of the recordings in his time with the Dead my opinion of him has really gone up. And frankly, my opinion of Keith G. has gone down.

There is a good mix of soundboard and crowd, actually a perfect mix for me. You really get the feeling you are at the concert. I do not download ÃÂAudÃÂ recordings but love it when is a soundboard with audience. Frankly, I am perplexed that there are 4 Star reviews here. Jerry and Bob do not screw up the lyrics. The band energy is very high, the crowd energy is very high, and the recording is crisp and clear. This is clearly a 5 Star performance to me and once I get organized and categorized I am confident this will be in my top 15%. 5 STARS!!

Reviewer: JaMmM On - - September 23, 2005
Subject: awesome show!!!

1 of the best knocking on heaven's door i've ever heard.... jerry's guitar is crisp... brent, and bobby back him up nice on the chorus... jerry's midi pedal is having some fun... with the echoey type sounds heard in the solos.... god i love it... lol awesome show.... get it now...

Reviewer: Liamfinnegan - - September 22, 2005
Subject: Brent's Finest Moment?

During the Blow Away at that show, I knew I was part of something special. I had never heard the song before, but there was something so electrifying about it that could not be denied.

Listening again, I am Blown away again. This vocal performance on this song is incredible- so much soul, so much angst...wow. Perhaps his finest moment in the band.

I am glad to see so many people giving this scarlet-fire the recognition it richly deserves. It is truly one of the best of all time. Overall, this is one of the finer shows I ever attended.

Reviewer: PUFFtronica - - September 12, 2005
Subject: Crazy

This show should be up on shelves. What an incredible sound. The quality is amazing and the set list is perfect. Blow Away is great and so is Rooster. If you like this show, check out "Dozin' at the Knick" They're about the same year. A+++++++++++

Reviewer: Slammy - - September 1, 2005
Subject: Love this Show

The last show at JFK before the shut it down... thank God they did too. It was falling apart. Not a huge rooster fan but this one Rocks. Brent is On FIRE~

Reviewer: smarcus - - August 19, 2005
Subject: Standing On The Moon!!!!

Amazing to hear how quite a huge stadium audience gets when Jerry sings a brand new song!

Great sounding CD!

I want a copy of EVERY show from 1987 through July 1990. Best stretch of shows since 1976-1978.

Reviewer: captain_trip_420 - - April 25, 2005
Subject: Rooster

Check out that Rooster Jam and Blow Away. And the sound is pretty good too.

Reviewer: Joe Shlobotnick - - April 18, 2005
Subject: ]]]]mindmelter[[[[

Jerry diggin' his MIDI Stratocaster during Space. Imagine if this band had 1989 technology in 1966! Listen to The Other One, then think about a small San Francisco dance hall filled with heads dosed to the gills on monumental amounts of Owsley acid.

Ever see the movie "Scanners"?

I barely made it out of this show alive and intact... be sure to wear protective goggles.

Nice levels on this SBD, too.

Reviewer: Capt'n Woodstock - - March 29, 2005
Subject: Good Memories

This was the second show I went to and I remember it being extremely hot. My friends and I settled in high Phil side to watch the show and what a performance we saw. Listening to the show again brings back many memories and I thank Archive for letting me hear this show again. The show definately gets four stars in my book. GET OUT OF MY SKY YOU FILTHY AIRPLANE.

Reviewer: hampshirehead - - March 22, 2005
Subject: not sure....

i just listened to bucket and part of iko...maybe it;s bc i just woke up and i dont have my "ears" on yet, but something seems to be missing in terms of quality...i noticed i could hardly hear brent at all on iko, and maybe too much of the high end on this one?? i;m sure show is hot from the other reviewers but i am not sure about the quality is all...do i need more coffee maybe ??? back in my old tape trading days i would grab this in a heart beat...but not so sure about now

Reviewer: donnaruinedthe70s - - March 11, 2005
Subject: no warm ups --no builds....

whoa! its rare that they come firing out of the gates like this and sustain alllll the way through. this is a top 10 show of all time. lots o' energy. the Blow Away is insane. Jerry's fills are superb, and brent just lets loose. THe scarlet-fire is insane (fire esp). Wow were they tight on this day. i just dont understand anyone who rates less than 5*s for this effort.

sound quality gets a 5 star as well. excellent mix of sound and audience. Healy messed up plenty of shows, but when he got it right, its better than anything out there.

Reviewer: redsox87 - - February 23, 2005
Subject: Solid Recording................

This recording is well done, clear and crisp. Definately worth the download. Jerry is still kicking on this one and Brent throws in something extra with the effort. Does anyone remember the fiber glass splinters in you legs from those yellow bleachers at this bender?

Reviewer: Gravy777 - - February 4, 2005
Subject: Great show

A buddy of mine and I hitch hiked from Ocean City NJ to see this show. He got in and I didnt, but I remeber sitting in the lot and making my own fun, but being sick that I didnt make it in. I have probably listened to this show 200 times and it kicks my ass every time.

Reviewer: ltg1964 - - December 15, 2004
Subject: last brent show

this was my last brent show, he really hit it on Blow away. I really finally got into him and then he was gone. Also last JFK show , I think the boys sent it out on a good note. Worth the download.

Reviewer: blackelk - - December 6, 2004
Subject: you think your ribcage is a jailcell, momma?

This show is so solid. First set, well, just had a magical energy, right from the start. The fact that it wasn't over after 'Let it Grow', left everybody grinning. And what a treat Brent gave, wonder what got him all jacked up? This 'Blow Away' is just amazing. At the end, when Brent is just going off, I remember seeing Jerry just keeping the groove going, and a BIG GRIN on his face, and well, kind of dancing. Just that constant bounce in his step kind of thing. This was a show was, well, what made it all worthwhile. Oh yeah, it was hotter that witch's you know what. Dick's Picks material? You betcha.

Reviewer: The Champ! - - November 19, 2004
Subject: The West Trenton Crew was there...

Great show folks! A hot day, in an unusually hot summer... Hardly any shade, and didn't seem to stop anyone from enjoying themselves... Last event ever held in this stadium too, as the building was condemned, and closed that night forever... Went down in great style! Great Iko, and one of the best Blow Aways I've ever heard, and I am glad that I was there to see it. Fire hoses trying to blast the heat from the crowd, and hoses with holes drilled in to keep sustroke to a minimum, made for one of the best shows on the east coast that year...! Rock on

Reviewer: DirkDuckler - - November 5, 2004
Subject: Great Stuff

I love the balance on this one- clear sound of the whole band and just enough crowd noise to get the feel of the audience.

Listening to an already-fading Jerry croak 'A lovely view of heaven, but I'd rather be with you' still makes me shiver.

Reviewer: DirkDuckler - - November 5, 2004
Subject: Great Stuff

I love the balance on this one- clear sound of the whole band and just enough crowd noise to get the feel of the audience.

Listening to an already-fading Jerry croak 'A lovely view of heaven, but I'd rather be with you' still makes me shiver.

Reviewer: Terrapin31590 - - September 27, 2004
Subject: Brother Brent

One of my all time favorite first sets. Not only is it a strong set list but all the tunes are played with enthusiasm and creativity. The somewhat unusual Iko location, Garcia just going nuts during it. A killer Loser with Mydland just laying down a heavy key line that perfectly suits the song's theme. Jerry's Ramble on with great MIDI effects. Weir just smoldering through Let it Grow and then Brent absolutely tears the house down with *the definitive Blow Away. Older Heads gave BM a hard time for a long time, and sadly, it wasn't until his passing and the professional, though largely uninspired work of Welnick (and to a lesser extent Hornsby) that people started giving Brent his due. The guy's pipes were the blues. The evident emotion and pain as he rips through Blow Away will leave you with chills.

The second set has a great Scarlet>Fire and O1>Wharf Rat (granted, neither is a uniqure pairing, but well played).

The sound quality is very good, well worth the d/l.

Highly Recommended

Reviewer: dhs28 - - September 1, 2004
Subject: Brent

Simply Blows Me Away!!

Reviewer: ptbarnum - - July 24, 2004
Subject: Chunk

I remember something hitting my head pretty hard at this show and it wasn't a chunk of concrete. What a great way to say goodbye to JFK.

Reviewer: Emmell - - July 22, 2004
Subject: Hot!

Sweltering heat and high humidity in a crumbling venue. People laid out on the grass in various stages of dehydration. So what do the Boys do? They give us a great show! Second set sparkles from top to bottom. Fun Lovelight.

Reviewer: ststvnfa - - July 21, 2004
Subject: End of JFK

Phlly was my home base, grew up in the area, and caught the majoity of my shows in philly. It was extremely hot this day!! I remember being up front along the rail as the other posted, except i remeber security on the other side of the rail squirting everyone down in the front with hoses, and what a relief it was. The music was incredible, I too remeber that SOTM and the scarlet>fire was on fire.
As for the end of JFK, for those who never knew. The Sixers and the Flyers wanted a new venue, they were sick of the Spectrum. Now at this time in the late 80s and early 90s, these teams sucked. They could not sell out the curent venue, so why the hell should they deserve a new bigger and better venue, right? They threatened the city of Philadelphia if they did not build them one that they would move across the river to Camden. Jfk was in dire need of repair, so let's tear down JFK and build a new venue there, it would cost too much to repair JFK. The stadium was actually condemned 4 days before the Grateful Dead were to play. The city was afraid of riots so they waited until after the show to announce the closing. The who were scheduled 2 days later to play but they moved that across the street to the Vet, which also is now gone. I happened to be friends with the president of the company who had the contarct for repairs to JFK. He told me it was about $100k to make the repairs to the stadium, fairly cheap, they condemned the stadium to make the sixers and flyers stay in Philly.
My favorite venue destroyed by two losing sports teams. Sad but true. JFK could hold 100K people for the record.

Reviewer: NOLA funkster - - July 18, 2004
Subject: RFK RIP

Awesome Blow Away.I still get chills when he says " just feel that breeze and let it blow away!" That cool breeze did flow through the stadium, the crowd, and right through me.

Reviewer: NOLA funkster - - July 18, 2004
Subject: RFK RIP

Awesome Blow Away.I still get chills when he says " just feel that breeze and let it blow away!" That cool breeze did flow through the stadium, the crowd, and right through me.

Reviewer: mid-maine - - July 15, 2004
Subject: jfk right up front

this may have been the closest to the rail i ever came, can't quite tell. somehow, in the sweltering heat, a friend and i managed to hang on right up front. we sweat so much that bathrooms were not an issue (sorry).

i dug the new sound. there was more midi in this show than i had yet experienced. it was fun. i had been oddly repelled-attracted to the pay-per-view phantom of the opera sounds from the solstice, so that i was a little prepared. my first standing was well placed out of estimated: gee i like surprises.

overall, the new songs were good songs, and the jams were hearty, a welcomed change from the more rock oriented preceeding years. i particulary dug the scarlet->fire transition and the estimated jam. after the show, my pal was muttering amazement about knockin', it really got him (he was more accustomed to firehose and descendants shows).

after we exited the stadium -- sticky, grimy, fade out glory -- we ran into a friend who had the misfortune to be back in the stands. he said it was as though he was listening to the band through a transistor a.m. radio. oops, sorry dude, we dug the hell out of it. be glad this is a crispy healy.

Reviewer: bonk - - July 14, 2004
Subject: last show at RFK

This was the last concert at this venue.I went to college in Deleware and made the trip for this show.There were atleast over 80,000 people at his gig.I remember hearing SOTM for the first time,as well as Blow away.I also remember a guy 2 feet from me totaly wiggin out on some strong shit!
Monster Scarlet>fire and for the most part,a nice show.Check out the transition jam form scar>fire.Well worth the download.What I want to know ARE....WHERE ARE THE GIANTS SHOWS A FEW DAYS LATER??????

Reviewer: gankmore - - July 14, 2004
Subject: End of my time in Philly

Maybe a week before I went to this show my Dad told my family that were were moving from Germantown (a neighborhood in Philadelphia) to Berkeley, California in August. I don't think any of that had hit me until I heard "Standing On The Moon" for the very first time ever at this show.

"Somewhere in San Francisco in a back porch in July"

That line would ring in my head for months through saying goodbye to my friends at Abington Friends School, where I had just finished my freshman year of highschool, and to our friends from our years living at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where my Dad was a professor. And it kept ringing in my head on the trip west, as we moved into our new family home, as I began life at Berkeley High Schoool and began seeing many more shows a year than I'd ever imagined possible before the move.

One of the things about the Grateful Dead that continues to amaze me is how much the stories these songs tell are, in fact, our own stories.

I'm not a huge fan of Matrix Tapes, and this is hardly as exciting as the setlists we'd see come October of '89, but this show is more than worth a listen.

"The coast of California must be somewhere over here, over here!"

Notes

(Healy Mix) SBD>MC>DAT>CDR; via Paul Bottiglio; Tim wiley