Been working my way through the spring 77 shows and may of that year just wow. This show is no exception most of it is more on the mellow side but they ended with a burst of energy with around and around and the JBG encore. The recording itself is great quality soundboard which seems to generally be the case with the Charlie Miller stuff. Thanks Charlie for all your hard work. Enjoy it.

Jeff and DSO !

um the portion from:
Other One >Wharf Rat>Other ONE>Wheel
some of the best music of 1977.
(the initial Other 1 into Wharf is the zenith.
a beauty transition into WHEEL)
Donna Jean has some great backing vocals 🙋‍♀️
Around x2- Rocks heavy
the crowd reaction at the close says it all
Although JBG features Weir on lead vocals
I always considered it a Garcia encore
with all the Chuck Berry licks
I could hear Garcia riffing it during Around & Around
Can't go wrong with two from Berry to close.
Mellow First Set and up to He's Gone,
Liquid Metal post drums.😇

The Orchestra did this set last night in Portland, Maine. Ripping good reprise of this great show. If you haven't seen DSO give them a try. They are not attempting a simulation of this set but attempt (and often succeed) in capturing the spirit of any given show with plenty of room for they're own inprov. And they point us back to this archive and for some great shows. Like this one.

Either we were children then or we are old now. Both, I guess. I wish I could see that show again, I know that I would appreciate it more today than I did then.

Being a Virginia boy who grew up about an hour away from Richmond I have a special affinity for this show. Didn't see this one cause I was nine years old at the time. Saw several at the coliseum and a bunch in Hampton. The mosque is a great theater....they call it something else now. Saw REM there in 1985. Seeing a show of this caliber in that kind of theater setting would have been wonderful. The sound quality is so great on this recording....to have heard it in real time...sigh. They were so good during this period. Thanks to Betty for all the high quality soundboards.

A wonderful show, much of it slowed down and hypnotic. Wharf Rat is fascinating.

Well, people make claims that Barton is the best show of 1977, or Swing which had the first Terrapin, or the run at Winterland in June or Boston, or the first show in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre, or Buffalo or Englishtown NJ. or the Pembroke Pines show that became a Dick's Pick.

Nope. It's this one.

BTW Keith is the bands secret weapon.

It's a May '77, so it's bound to be a good show. The show after contender for best-show-of-all-time, Pembroke, this is to Pembroke what War/Buffalo is to Barton. When you've got what we have today (the whole archive) you can be choosy if you want and by those standards this isn't a top 5 for the month (in fact it's average) and yet it's still really good - because it's freaking May '77!

First Set. Half the May 77s start with a Half-step Mississippi. This isn't a fireworks version like some of the others and yet it's totally money. Jack Straw is workmanlike - for May 77 anyway. Mexicali has some cool chording but otherwise matches others from 76-78. Peggy-o is a tight, slightly bouncy reading and Cassidy is uptempo with Jer inventive the whole way. The interplay is astonishing - almost up there with 6/9/77. Loser is punchy, one of the best, with Jer staying down at the butt through the solo. It's also an all-time classic Lazy Lightning/Supplication. Bob's attempt at one of Phil & Mickey's alt-time signatures was often blocky or sloppy but not here. The Supp jam is perfect. Ever wish Brown-Eyed Women appeared in a Rock version? Here you go.

Second Set. This is a good Scarlet>Fire. The Fire's not 4/30, 5/4, 5/8, 5/11, 5/17,or 5/21, and gets a little sleepy near the back (and Donna Steps on a Cat™ during Scarlet), but this was a heck of a month to live up to. The rest is good, but average for May 77.

1st Set:  A-
2nd Set: B-
Overall = 4 Stars

Highlights:
Half-Step Mississippi - a sneaky, groovy thang
Peggy-O - how it's supposed to be played
Loser - just about the fairest deal
Lazy Lightning>Supplication - perfection
Scarlet Begonias - nailed it

SOURCES: The SBDs all sound about the same but for the picky stuff there's this updated Miller plus, of course, Dave's #1.

Wow, what a tight and pretty show. If you like Jerry's voice than Toodeloo and Peggy-O make this worth the listen, but the whole show is very clean, thanks Charlie Miller for your excellent work! Phil shows up strongly throughout as well, and (sorry!) there's not TOO much Donna.

I found the reason this has been streamed so many times...While I am a full on fan of the rocking concerts this one is like slipping into a warm bath with a cold beer after a long day in the field. Sit back and let it cleanse you deeply.

Our previous reviewer's accurate comment bears repeating:
"One of the things that make the GD so great in my opinion is the fact that each show can have elements so completely different...What a perfect example of that point this one is."

Now time to chase down that 5/15 show mentioned!

pure reflection in a pure mirror
of what Man can do
Epic.

thanks C.Miller and all who labor for the feast of our ears and souls.

At one point while I was listening to this show, I thought how Dick would have never picked this one for an official release. He did pick 5/22 however, which is pretty much a barnburner from start to finish and a very, very different type of show. One of the things that make the GD so great in my opinion is the fact that each show can have elements so completely different – yet both are so uniquely fucking awesome. What a perfect example of that point this one is. This show is more heart and less adrenaline, and more hypnotic than psychedelic in my opinion. It has that intangible “I can feel it” vibe that makes good shows great and great shows amazing. This smoker is surely the latter. The warm environment created by Jerry’s incredible vocals and damn-near perfect playing make this one a fantastic start to the Dave’s picks series. As you can already tell, I really enjoyed giving this a totally blind first listen.

The tone is literally set by the first few notes of the Mississippi opener, which ever so delicate while still maintaining a full steam ahead type of feel. Jerry’s vocals strike me immediately – spot on and sounding like Summer ’76, which happens to be my favorite period for his vocals. So smooth out of the gate, totally unlike so many shows that come busting out from the jump. Jack Straw comes next, and simply put its one of the best ever imo. I was so impressed by this after the first listen I stopped the show and tried to think of a better version off the top of my head – I couldn’t. There may be more adrenaline inducing versions out there, but this one is all heart and damn near perfect. Wound so beautifully, it takes my new top spot for the tune. At this point is when I knew something truly special was in the air this evening. TLEO rolls out next every bit as smooth as the first two tunes. Again, spot on playing. Time is perfect and the boys sound so in synch right here. You probably coulda blindfolded all of them at this point and it would not have made a difference. Incredible. Next up is Mexicali, which I spoke about recently as a barometer for a show – in other words, put on any Mexicali from any show and you can pretty much tell what kind of night Jerry is having. Perfect example right here. Jerry starts crazy pickin’ even before Bobby starts the rhythm. I don’t believe that I have ever heard him do that before. If there is such a thing as a monster Mexicali I would say this is it. Jerry tears shit up at a low level behind Bobby the entire tune – goodtimey yeehaw love right there. Bang up job boys. Jerry then rolls Peggy-O out next, and the warmth he creates with this sea shanty is incredible. First ballad in and he just nails it. Again, his vocals here are a thing of beauty. The solo is so soft and heavy, just exactly perfect for my taste. Ive always had a soft spot for this one. Well Done. Next up is Cassidy, and this is where I really started noticing the awesome tone of the Bean this evening. Perfectly in tune, and wonderfully played. Phil also really starts to shine here, and his punchy bass lines really fatten up the sound tonight. This one is another example of how on the band really is this evening. This version is pulled off seemingly without any effort, and even Donna is totally on point tonight. Jerry’s solos are nonstop and Bobby dominates. Wow. Not usually a huge Cassidy fan, but this one had a jammed out Bird Song-ish feel to it. Really nice. Next up they roll out the second ballad of the evening, Loser. Jerome is definitely pulling at heart strings and toying with peoples emotions here – and I love it when he does that. Classic storytelling which conjures up images of the most desperate of men, Jerry lays this down like the old soul he already is. Loved it. So they roll out LL>Supplication next, and I have an extremely hard time giving this an unbiased review because I do not care for this combo – and that is putting it kindly. It was well played though, and I didn’t hate it as much as usual. After the disco break, they boys roll out a very still sounding BEW. Awesome placement and Jerry sounds so soulful here, like he’s telling a story about something that just happened to him. I realize I’m starting to sound like a broken record here, but Jerry absolutely owns every song he does so far this evening. We round out the first set with a beautifully ramped up Promised Land – are you freakin kiddin me? WOW. How could you not be on your feet dancing after this ferocious wind up. Talk about slamming the door on the way out..Holy moly - now that was really something. Smiling from ear to ear, I am stoked after the first listen of the first set. Why have I not heard of this show before? Magic is straight up happening, and I can feel this show elevating my mood. That’s awesome, and so was that first set.

The second set begins with an outstanding, somewhat docile Scarlett>Fire. When I say docile does that no way imply slow or uneventful. It more like a trance inducing reggae groove, with a lighter than air feel to it. Right from the first few notes I knew I would love this combo. Quick without being fast, maintaining plenty of room for Jerry to roam. Let me mention Donna again here – she sounds fantastic tonight. Her vocal solo absolutely stirs the shit outta the crowd; and they love her for it this evening. The best way I can put it to you is I got completely lost in this one…Just one song... I had no idea how long it was nor did I care. I was hypnotized on an aural level, and I dig that shit. The transition into Fire is where I was taken by the ever so subtle change and the beefy wah of the Mutron taking over the groove. Jerry calms it right down and they follow him ever so gracefully into a fully blown transcendental state, which is tonight’s Fire On the Mountain. His vocals fill the room like ice cold lemonade on a hot day. Refreshing and sweet, soothing and light this unreal version is pure hypno-Jerry at its finest. After the first verse and chorus, the licks start pouring outta the Bean like a tidal wave of tripped out butterflies rushing the crowd. This is wonderful head music right here. I loved this Scarlett>Fire and again – another absolute gem from this show. After coming to a brief full stop, Bobby starts counting it off and you know right where they are going – Estimated. They drop right in and let the groove loose once again. Bobby sounds great and Jerry lays this one down perfectly. Not too quick and maintaining that steady climb into the deep end. When Jerry finally takes flight, its more like a low flying glider than Apollo 13. Drifting in and out of a dream like state, perfectly comfortable exploring this groove right where he is at. Never rushed, never forced, and always right on time. After Jerry’s done exploring, they transition into He’s Gone. Nothing too crazy, but they definitely turn the corner here smooth as silk. Drop in, kick back and listen to Jerry’s tale of woe. As laid back as the night gets, yet still very heavy at the same time. They melt this into a kinda unique, albeit truncated Drums. It sounds to me like an a Art Blakey-ish at the beginning, and then they both start swinging like Big Band style. Very different and very cool. On point with the hypnotic feel, without going too tribal-cheese on you. They do a little false start TOO, and then they drop the heater on ya. Just exactly what I thought, our first ride on a V2 this evening – I figured it was coming sooner or later. Immediately I notice Phil stepping right up and straight up dominating. Nice punchy bombs abound and Jerry begins the ascent. Ramping nicely this TOO is definitely sounding hot. Bobby sounds like he almost blew out his larynx on the first verse, and Jerry maintains that galloping feel with the usual onslaught he provides during this tune. Scales abound, the all business Garcia takes this one into almost a march of sorts, then gently brings this one in. Phil sounds as if he wants another go – but not yet is Jerry’s answer. They land ever so gently in the form of the first few licks of Rat. Man is that smoooth. I smile with a smirky grin, and just soak this shit in. Insanely good and perhaps the ballad of the night. I love this song – the beautiful picture Jerry paints. I got a chill when he sang the opening August West verse – I know you’ve all been there before…This is one sweet Rat right here. Pure bliss. Slowly but surely they start coming around again – some trippy little interplay happenen before Phil busts them back into full blown bezerker mode TOO. The first two minutes after Rat is full on Phil bliss. Shit explodes everywhere as re-entry has officially begun. One more go round and Jerry backs them waay off again for the transition of the night into Wheel. Magical is how I describe that transition, and once again we are gliding home. This particular Wheel evokes themes of well being and hope that really shine through. Perfect placement and incredibly well played. Yet another tune that totally gets me when its done just right – and this one surely delivers. Smile inducing classic GD love all around, its time close the show. They bust straight into Around and Around and do JBG for the encore. I would say that this is the only part of the show that did not blow me away. I mean – I knew the Chuck Berry close was coming because of the first set closer, but I really coulda used a Dew. Both tunes were done very well though, and I can imagine how wonderful everyone felt when those lights came up after two speedy dancin’ tunes in a row. You know that feeling – the second the house lights come up and you look around and see everyone – and then just give your brother a hug. That’s how I see this one as ending for everyone that went. Big grin, big hug – see you down the road.

Thoughts on this one – What a wonderful show from arguably the best month of the bands career. Heavy on the ballads, Jerry goes right for the heart and soul of the crowd. So heavy and smooth, this exercise in transcendental flight leaves an impression without question, and soaks the listener in the warmth of the vibe. This show is a completely unique experience that left me feeling like I just ate a space cake – full body buzz with a grin. This is a remarkable show by any standard and I give this my very highest recommendation. Jerry was definitely channeling some Obi-Wan this evening.

I've been listening to these guys for 40 years and I've heard it all like many of you. I've been checking this night out the past week or so. I forgot just how good Fire on the Mountain was played on the 25th, perhaps as good as the Barton version. The J-Man really wakes up on this one on this mellow, jazzy night. It's a great song, I've always thought, but it was a fuckin' classic in Richmond. My latest thing is streaming the music through my Sonic Frontiers tube pre-amp (and my other gear). It's almost like listening to a whole new line up of Dead concerts.....better than my headset. The tubes really tame the steel neck on J's guitar. It sounds great!

The jam between Scarlet > Fire is awesome. Garcia and the drummers are really locked in and Donna sounds just great, haunting and eerie. Beautiful Peggy-O, Brown-Eyed Women, and Estimated too.

there is a new name to replace Dicks picks. It's
called Dave's Picks who is picking up where
Dick left off. This concert is supposed to be
his first recording and it probably won't be available for downloading in the future.

Richmond native and the mosque is no doubt an intimate setting for a show. How do you download on this site.

with a tremendous Other One/Wharf Rat/Wheel sandwich, but up till then I wouldn't call it the best show of the year, or even of the season. Granted, I'm not a particular fan of the Dead's '77 sound (a little too tight, clean and polished for my taste), but there are shows from this period I like better than this one. Before Drums, this is a fairly run of the mill performance, with typically professional but unspectacular renditions of the usual tunes.

I was at the show one week earlier (my first Dead show, 5/18). Been crawling around this site for a while. Just found this.

Wow. Just wow.

Time has been kind to me and my toys. Enjoyed this at concert volume last night on the Klipschorns.

Thank you Mr. Charlie Miller!!

by far one of THE best shows of 77. i dont think the music could have played the band any better on this night. this show is perfection from first song to last. incredible playing and energy. something happened in may of 77 that sent these guys into the stratosphere. easily easily up there with the boston garden and barton hall shows. betty caught lightning in a bottle in richmond.

Use latest Mozilla Firefox browser. Install the DownloadHelper plugin. Once you play one of the songs, you should be able to save each .mp3 file locally by clicking the rotating yellow/blue/red balls icon. This show is truly incredible! I wasn't even alive when this show took place!

How do I download this?

Keep on Rollin just mile to go...Thank you Internet Archives. I really like Donna on a lot of these in may 77. She shines.

Look at the year.
Look at the month.
Look at the setlist.
Nothing more to say that hasn't been said.

i try to read more reviews than i write, especially with a band like The Grateful Dead because, well, I wasn't there. But I know greatness, I'm a lover of music, appreciative of art, and respectful of the time and dedication it took to get this show sounding so beautifully clear and well-tracked. That being said the music says it all, 5 star recording generally means 5 stars in my book- if I could rate this 10 I would.

Peace and love.
AD

The sound quality is near-perfect and the show is fantastic :-)

Great set, very energetic. Love the Scarlet =>Fire and Half Step

One of the best Scarlet/Fires ever; fantastic Estimated; transcendental Other One->Wharf Rat->
Other One, and a jumpin' Miss 1/2 Step to kick it all off in an historic Southern venue where Elvis once played in 1956 during on his rise to rock immortality. Well...the King himself could never have imagined what would follow him through the door. And on this night, the lucky Heads in the audience were in for a suprise as well.

The boys come out with a Blazin MHST, great first set list in to a soothing Jack Straw, heartfelt TLovedEO in to P-O and a deep soul full Loser. Keith always was very good at bringing a strong deep emotion to the Pegg-os and Losers and He’s gone, songs like that on his twinkling piano, Brett sometimes opts for the organ (I love Brett too, I just like Keith better on some songs, just my own personal opinion). Second set is a treat for any Dead fan, just Killer f’n classic Scarlet Fire in to EP, he’s gone, killer other one and a neat turnaround from W-Rat (if the lords willing, I’ll be back on my feet again someday.) to the wheel, loved it. The guys at their prime, Donna doest get too crazy, and Phil is a strong the whole show. It’s a 5 on the set list alone, sound quality is really good (you can hear Phil really good unlike some aud recordings). Also, Bobbi and Jerr really seemed to be having a good time they sound really good during Jack Straw. Wish I was alive to be part of the vibe, but IM glad of what’s still left. Peace and love from VA Beach.

awesome donna part

One of the best sounding recordings from this era.

PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a fine fine show & wonderful recording. Puts one right there. Got to agree they were on their A game this night and check out the He's Gone jam...absolutely brilliant. Other high points include Lazy Lightning-supplication (never played enough), Cassidy and a fine They Love Each Other. And you can't go wrong with a show that includes The Other One/Wharf Rat.

Peace

crispy clear!

This was my late fathers favorite concert.
I found this out after going through his attic prior to the estate sale. WOW i found close to 40 dead tapes. This date had "Best" scribled on it. unfortunatly, after being in a Texas attic for 15 plus years, this particular tape was unplayable. But i agree with my dad that this concert was one for the books.
Like all of you who couldn't be around in their glorry days with K&D this website offers a glimpse of that era. My dad was an faithful tripper and follower of the dead, and after jerry's death he was never the same, but he always had his tapes and i will never forget the Dead or my father.

For some reason every time I am on the Archive I can not stop myself from listening to this show.

First it's the He's gone, simply gives me goosebumps and then it's the sound of the show...a little echo like hard to describe but it haunts me. Just beautiful

This show is 'DA BOMB'! It's as good as any show in 1977. I would put it right up there with Boston Garden, Cornell University, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and Pembroke Pines for '77. Heck, I would have given anything to be any of these concerts back in 1977! But I was stationed overseas in Okinawa at the time.

Download the Charlie Miller remaster:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1977-05-25.sbd.miller.87591.sbeok.flac16

Half-Step, Jack Straw, and Peggy-O are simply amazing! Now if you really want a Half-Step that is in a class by itself, then check out the one from 5-8-77 at Boston Garden!

And the 2nd set speaks for itself! Any time you get Wharf Rat sandwiched in the middle of the Other One, then you are in for a treat.

Check out my other reviews from other awesome Grateful Dead shows!!

Danny from Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.
East-Coast Deadhead
rfkrox44@hotmail.com

PEACE-OUT!

this doesn't sound as muffled as the one with 60+ reviews. I recommend this source. It sounds crisper.