...the grass ain't greener and the wine ain't sweeter either side of the hiLL, which to me, means that no matter which show you're plugging in them Ears of yours - bring your consideration and love along. Because it's one thing to observe, dictate, and ruin your time with being angry or mean. Anyone can do that! But, it's worth more if you bring an open mind with you to help keep those around company...

Any show that opens with Sugaree is going to be awesome

not really sure how to rate this show... excellent execution, excellentish sound (ish because of the short splice in franklins) but is it really 5 stars? setlist is awesome. I'd give a 4.5

I was lead here by an Amazon comment "check out Scarlet > Fire." This show flows very well, funky bass-playing, and yes, no frenzied, edge-of-your-seat cosmic moments--like 5:54 in "MHSUT" from Englishtown--just good music. I'll come back to this one often.

I knew who the Dead were from Top 40 radio. I knew one Deadhead in high school.
First Dead show was 3rd night at the pyramids. I was in Egypt for a year of college. Roomed with a dh from Rochester studying at Amherst. He brought a copy of this show, I had the stereo.
So, what was it like at the Pyramids? My roomy recorded using a boombox set on the stage!
Anyway, listened to to this tape many times, among others, in our flat. 40 years, many shows and many hours, weeks, if not months, a year?, of listening to Dead shows I still come back to this one.
Every show I have been to has featured something uniquely special in how one or more songs are played. An Unbroken Chain has no weakest link.
Being Grateful strengthens the chain.

Grate setlist. Grate performance. Grate sound quality. Grate 77 Dead.

As of today I will no longer rate shows. What's the Point? I either love them or I don't. I love this show and really dig the flowing grooves the 'Dead were playing in on this one. Good stuff!

Don't listen to anyone who says that this show is lazy lacking energy or doesn't have the groove. It's actually a joyous, rollicking show played over an easy, laid-back groove. The boys were having a blast with this one.

I've never heard another show quite like this one. It has its own unique feel. There aren't any of the way out there kind of jams, but the show seriously rocks in a laid-back sort of way. It's the Dead at their loose and yet tight best. Everything just hangs together so perfectly.

This show has my favorite versions of Franklin's and GDTRFB. I also love the Scarlet and the spacy "Slipknot", which is as jammed out as the band gets on this particular night. There isn't a song that isn't well-played.

I can't believe that I never listened to or heard about this show before as a 30+ year DH. This show moves to the top of my bucket list - high energy, technically tight, and just an outright great listen. Going to hold on to this one for awhile!

very cool vibe as usual for Springfield, love the set list and all of set 2

this show smokes May 77 may be outta this world but this show is no slouch fer sure i mean name another show they play Sugaree,Row Jimmy,Scarlet/Fire,Music Never Stopped and Help/Slip/Franklins in one show all jammed hell i was listening to the 80's recently youre lucky to hear them all in a 3 night stand must've been nice to see em in 77 i didn't get to till 79 still love this show from a great year
recording is top notch too so i'm going with 4.5

What someone may say is playing lazy, I say is putting down a great mellow groove. I love this Help On the Way> Slipknot> Franklin..etc..
The sound quality is top notch and this has become one of my most listened to 77 shows. I guess it all depends on what type of Dead you like

stay away from this show. lazy is being generous. the meat of the show lacks any energy at all. garcia can't muster a real solo until mid-music never stopped. it does seem fairly clam free since the band appears to be actually asleep. help on the way etc is so flaccid that i could not endure it so i can't review the franklins tower. if you are surfing through 77 like lots of folks, let this wave go past.

This show has a sweet, lazy, '76 sound with the percision and inspiration of a Spring '77 concert! It lacks the intensity of shows that would be played in May but this show has its own charm. A real laid back feel with great lazy versions of songs. The Scarlet/Fire here is one of the first, and I for sure is one of my favorite! Maybe even better that Cornell, and I am a huge Cornell fan! The best Scarlet/Fire of all time is 5/21/77.

Daddy D the keyboard you are hearing Keith play around with is a MOOG synthesizer. I personally love the trippy organ sounds! The best use of this keyboard is the Pembroke Pines Lazy Lightning>Supplication. The Help>Slip>Franklin's is perfect!

So this show is perfect for all you '76 fans! I think March and April had their own disctinct sound. You can tell a huge difference between the end of April and May 7,8,9. Don't miss out on this great show!

Given the rave reviews on the other copy, I spent some time with this show and I'm puszzled. I find the band is still finding its groove. The Scarlet Fire is very articulate but the Scarlet has a rushed tempo--and the Fire doesn't go into very many universes (Jerry's Fire leads at New Haven, for example, on 5-5, blow this version away). That easy, effortless feel the starts say, around 4-30-77, hasn't really jelled yet. They are playing hard and sharply, but not half as deeply as Lakeland or Pembroke Pines or that killer first set at the Palladium 5-4-77. However, I do like the heavy rhythmic pile up after the GDR gets rolling. I like Keith's quirky organwork throughout, but he is obviously experimenting, rather than gettin jiggy with it. For me, Bertha was the highlight here.

This is absolute killer show! Starts off with two slow, but great songs. Then gets a little slow, but from 'Row Jimmy' and on it is killer.

The Scarlet Fire and the Help-Slip-Franklin's are show right there.

I highly recommend this SBD to everyone out there.

Justin

Move on folks, nothing of interest here, just another (yawn) great Dead show.

I've decided I hate all you old hippies. For the most part the drugs & sex you enjoyed didn't kill you, and the music you got to experience! IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!! Wait a minute . . . I guess without some of you old hippies I wouldn't have all this great music to listen to . . . on second thought--I love you guys!

If this show would have occured anytime from 1980 onward I'd give it 5 stars; however, for a 1977 show, 4 stars is as high as I can go.

First of all, Keith, who I think is THE MAN and whom I've never said a bad word about, plays around w/ some kind of synthesizer during Row Jimmy, Help, Fire, & others, and quite frankly it just didn't work. Thank God he ended up primarily playing the piano, virtuoso wizard that he was.

Jerry flubs some lyrics during Help On the Way, and there's a truly unfortunate audience patch during Franklin's Tower. However, at one point Jerry rocks out during Franklin's in a way that I don't think I've ever heard--simply amazing!

For the most part Donna actually sounds OK, but then at one point during Sat. Night she simply can't contain herself & let's loose with one of her patented screams. Oh well, had I been there I'd of probably been screaming myself!

All in all definitely worth a listen, and again, check out Franklin's Tower. Smokin'!

Oh, and by the way: I'm not gay, but Charlie Miller--you are a stud. Muchas Gracias Amigo!!