...the band sounds ridiculously powerful, like they're playing in the roman coliseum for thousands of patrons vying for the gladiators to
kiLL or be kiLLed. dave picked weLL with this one. i'm not even five songs into the show and it's already better than many i've caLLed my favorites. the touchstone (for me) is the early set one, "Ramble On Rose." You can hear them lift off and stay there before crash landing with a double-barreled "Uncle/Big River." Ka-POW! I'm very happy to have this one come across my desk (and Charlie's).

* Nick, 9/7/2023

For any spring ‘78 haters out there (you know who you are, e.g., another “lifeless” and “uninspired” April show), I offer this date for your consideration. The band comes roaring out of the gate fully charged on Promised Land and rolls through a well-played, high-energy first set of standards with lots of flourishes, and even a “Stayin’ Alive” disco tease thrown in, culminating in an explosive Music Never Stopped. The second set picks right up where they left off, starting with a power-packed Scarlet-Fire and terrific transition, and doesn’t let up, including sweet versions of Terrapin and Black Peter and ending with a rollicking Werewolves of London encore (or should I say “Werewolves of Tamalpais,” you’ll just have to listen to find out). Jerry’s vocals throughout are strong and punchy and the entire band is clearly having fun. The soloing is sharp and the interplay is buoyant, all highlighted on another Charlie Miller gem. Thank you Mr. Miller. So much for all the doom and gloom. It must be the roses, or maybe just a Spring fling. Either way you’re gonna like it.

Haven't had a chuckle this big for ages. I first thought you (helpontheway79) were talking about the totally off-key howling of the band in Werewolves rather than the howler Drums. It's just hilarious listening to them try and pull off some kind of togetherness in the AHoooooo-ing, and failing miserably. It's so bad, it's beautiful. And because they are ALL so completely off in harmony and key, it actually works. I look for humor in everything I can find, and this Werewolves is well done and funny. Considering it was only their second attempt, it is really charming and a wonderful find.

Because I have such a large collection, I usually look for standout versions of songs. And Jerry's singing is marginal tonight. So I only kept M&MU (love the Daisy hint and Staying Alive intro) and TMNS in the first set. But the second was very well executed with allot of energy. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Not being a fan of R&R, the fade out / fade in of WR to Werewolves was a bit awkward. But I got away with a minimal of transition burn by overlapping the songs. Thankfully, they both had about the same amount of energy and didn't sound too unnatural in the blending. Did some slightly above average amount of reverb for the soundboard to soften the vocals along with adding some bass. And it sounds great now. Highly recommended.

There are a string of fine shows at the end of the Apr78 tour, including this, the final show. It's perhaps not quite as good as Lexington [the 21st], but has different highlights. If you know just one thing about the show, it's probably that there's a Stayin' Alive tease going into M&MU - but this is a minor aside to the actual highlights. Aside from Mickey dragging the whole crew to see Saturday Night Fever while on tour in the Midwest, the soundtrack's hits were inescapable, at a time when everyone was exposed to Top 40 radio. This strengthened the longevity, back when movies took weeks to spread to theaters - the sole source of viewing before VCRs.

ISU is halfway between Chicago and St.Louis, and they didn't play the latter metro in '78. This was the only time they played this campus (though they did play 45mi away at U of I). My understanding is that the official release is the uncirc Betty Board, and previous sources are the SBD - or is it vice versa (the Betty Boards list misses some that have long been in circ, so...)? The two mixes differ little on this particular night, so the question is, since GDP had the patches why didn't they offer the complete tracks? It took me 10mins on Audacity to patch the official.

First Set. Promised Land is all warm-up vibe, though not in a bad way. Keith kept it simple, playing his Rhodes on this tour. The ship lifts off for Ramble On Rose - a dynamic, different version. Bobby starts a Stayin' Alive tuning, and the rest briefly fall in. The official release condenses this tuning (though no SBD has the total tuning gap). The riff melds into M&MU. Keith then quotes it several times, while Mickey adds a disco hi-hat drop (heard clearly on the SBD, but not so much on the official), then there's a corner where everybody falls in and shifts to overdrive. So kewl, lyric flubs aside. In a paragon Big River, Jer then quotes the Bee Gees @28secs, no doubt to get a grin from compatriots. Jer's great, Bobby's great, but it's Keith that really puts it beyond all sane reasoning. Friend of the Devil has the sluggish '78 tempo, eventually compensated with a few fireworks. Brown Eyed doesn't compare to the 21st, but is always good in '78. Jer is the saving grace for a rickety Passenger. Even if you're not usually excited by Must Have Been Roses, this impresses - though it seriously loses tempo, from brisk to a crawl. Again, the 21st has the landmark Music Never Stopped, though this one provokes accord.

Second Set. Jer attacks this Scarlet as a hyphenate, with sideways solos that fit despite themselves. As cool as it is, same some room for the dessert because this Fire is one for the ages. Yes, there is some Bobby's Slide Practice™, but let it build. The digestif is Good Lovin'. Don't worry about the tab - this whole opening sequence is money (South Europe...in the hardest Albania...maybe it's snowing!). The rest is average to below average '78. There's a reel change in Drums, @0:55 on the SBD, missing 54secs. This section is intact on the official release [0:55>1:49], which instead has a cut @3:30, missing 18secs [intact @2:39>2:57 on SBD]. This Drums>Space is hard to hear twice. Black Peter is very understated, though there's a great segue on the back. The SBD has another tape flip @3:03 in Around, missing 3:19. This is intact on the official [@3:05>6:24] which instead has a cut @7:34, missing 38secs of the SBD. Around may not be the tightest version, but as far as trainwrecks go, Werewolves is painful. With this serious slide practice, I'm not sure why Jer didn't butt in and start soloing (Phil: werewolves of Tamalpais). Here's a weird thought: this isn't even the worst one.

1st Set:  B
2nd Set: C+
Overall = 3½ stars

Highlights:
Ramble On Rose - dynamic & different, to a unique M&MU
Big River - Bee Gees quotes & grinning compatriots taunt all sane reasoning
It Must Have Been the Roses - may be year's best
Scarlet Begonias - sideways solos striking
Fire on the Mountain - for the ages
Good Lovin' - electric cap of money seq

SOURCES: The miller_32899 improved the sound but runs fast. The miller_97543 fixed the pitch errors but has the channels switched, misses some of the tunings, and is EQd. If you want the most complete SBD use the mccaw_3296 (but it runs fast - particularly the second set). If you want the sound that's truest to source, try the thompson_20598, which is also better balanced in places. There is a rough AUD. DaP7 has the whole show except for edited versions of Drums and Around.

Si, ive posted on only a few shows, but have been an archive/DEAD fan since my youth.. Being 12 when Jerry passed, I have always searched for a shoe (5/8/77 as prime example) that really makes you feel like your right there, dancing with the crowd. I must admit that its tough for me to be impressed with the sound, not theband but the recording quality.. Mr. Miller, I say to you, thank you... Its shows like these that keep moving the Grateful Dead to generation to the next to next!!! Peace

njpg, as a long term resident of southern mexico and frequent traveler to guatemala and belize, i can say without a doubt that those are not howlers. not sure what they are. but these are howlers...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LetLtlxeCo

apart from that, although i've enjoyed the shows for years, i'm new to commenting/reviewing on the archive, so not much to offer yet. this drums definitely gets some honorable mention from me. and there's a lotta real nice subtle ad-libbing going on during this show. apart from the aforementioned "let it burn, let it burn, let it burn," there's bobby ("cause i need somebody to help me now") and donna ("really?") after the "...come on clap your hands" during Music. and jerry's "no it don't!" on FOTD after the last "but it don't look like me." no doubt in the top 3 for '78.

5
Five
Cinco
五
фиве
and a girl is standing there...

Voted #1 Music Never Stopped full of spunk throughout but Jerry holds nothing back,just listen to this build and build everyone just ripping full tilt and Jerry takes it Higher and Higher.

Come on people! How an you not mention the awesome Not Fade Away!

Drums is/are totally worth mentioning.

absolutely killer show.

Special mention should be made of this Drums. Those are howler monkeys you can hear calling. Who made that field recording? It sounds like whoever it was is trying to call to the monkeys & get them to call back.

at the showgettin subscribin place

another 78 top 10

Before the final ascent in Fire, Jerry sings "Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn". That's one of my favorite moments.

This is one of the most unique Scarlet>Fires out there. The boys really developed their sound by the Spring of '78 and these April shows are all a real treat. Bobby is playing with his slide, Jerry's Wolf guitar sound is at it's peak, Donna and Keith are sounding better than ever since their '77 tours. This Scarlet>Fire is on of the best of '78, maybe not as good as 5/21/77 but close. Just listen to the shear inspiration on the Fire, Jerry is using my favorite guitar effects(the Mutron Octave divider and envelope filter)and is ripping notes all over the scales. The Werewolves of London was a brief but much loved addition to their encore slot, much better than hearing a Johnny B. Goode haha.

This sound is better than any of the other sources. See for yourself!

Not my favorite Scarlet Fire transition, but pretty darn close. I had this tape in high school and would always listen to it on my walkman while cutting the grass! It was labeled the Dekalb IL show obviously by error...I'm glad i located it....the Terrapin is nice and Im lucky to have had this show as my only bootleg as a new fan back in 94. My first and last show was 10-07-94. Wish i was around for the good ol days..jeff
www.musiciansforanimals.com

One of the best shows of 1978 from the great month of April. The whole show is a highlight, but of particular interest is the transition jam from Scarlet to Fire. The Black Peter from this show is one of the best, just spilling over with great blues licks from Mr Garcia & Company. Jerry's vocal work is really nice too. The versions of Ramble On Rose and It Must Have Been The Roses are also stand outs.
The sound quality of this recording/transfer is top shelf!

i used to have a crisp, wide ranging aud of this most excellent show. it would add to the spectrum to have one. any posters?

gotta love that second set. it is definitely a blueprint for the 80s, but with that lush 78 sound.

check out the promised, the ramble on rose, the disco jam into me & my uncle, the transition into big river....

these guys are having a blast and they take every song up a notch, just stepping it up!

this might be the best show of 1978