What a beautiful jam out of He’s Gone. Kind’ve has that Stanley Theater 12/1/79 sound to it eh?

Wonderful show. Wonderful year.

I saw over a hundred shows live but this one is special...wasn't there, I was only a kid at the time. This is a great show man..don't pass it by. Thank you archive. Ripping....just listen to the Alabama or promised land and that will give you a taste of just how hot they were that night. Wonderful show

Wow, put on a good set of headphones and you are IN THE ROOM with this recording. China>Rider is excellent as is most of the show. Definitely download this source.

This was my very first Grateful Dead show, which was 35 years ago tonight as I'm typing. I was just a curious high school senior who had seen many Swing Auditorium shows prior to this. Little did I know that it would begin a lifelong obsession. Holy cow, this is an amazing show! Of course, back then I had no idea that I had just witnessed the Dead at one of their many peaks. It's such a pleasure to be able to come back and listen to it again courtesy of Ron Goldshine, John Musgrave, Mark the B-Man, and Mike Martin (Thanks guys!). This version surfaced recently if I'm not mistaken, and it has a very different sonic quality compared to the equally stellar Ron Ellner, A. Egert, SIRMick, MOTB recording. That one's more in your face, while this one seems to be more laid back and roomy. Both are worth having, and I keep dreaming that someday, someone with the skills will create a matrix of this with the fine Charlie Miller board of this show that circulates. One for the ages!

This one showcases Jerry explosive playing and he is in full control of the band. The good ole days of the Jerry and Bob show.

Phil is possibly the only weak link this year, although he does play some sweet notes this performance, as he was not the same bass player he would become by 1983.


I am not sure if he was still playing Big Brown.

The sad footnote for this show was that it was four days after John Lennon was murdered.

The first set starts with Jerry simply unleashing with a searing precision and at breakneck tempos with the pairing of Alabama> Greatest Story.

FOTD is sweet with that Americana yearning for understanding that Jerry was so at good at expressing.

Things come back down to Earth after crazy Rooster and the end of the set is well played.

Peggi-O is a show high point for sure.

Promised Land picks up were the set began.

Set two features a simply text book perfect China Cat that quickly transcends into a fluid and rapid transition into a joyous INYR.

The Socal faith erupt in joyous glee.

Estimated is wild and played with a enormity that would mark how this song was played out in the early '80's.

The He's Gone is sublime and this recording, which is warm and right in your face, showcases this beautiful rendition.

The transition out of it is inspired with a melodic reassurance with purpose that blossoms into a nice surprise, an up-tempo Eyes that once again features Jerry reaching more thrilling peaks.

Post space looks like typical on paper but the Truckin' peak is wild, they do they unique two beat punch as they race toward an orgasmic, and almost perfect, peak.

Wharf Rat is another tribute to John's and the surviving counter culture movement which painfully suffered an irreplaceable loss with Lennon's senseless murder.

Around is a power house and is short and sweet. Jerry and Bob obviously had crossed signals as Jerry jumps into Johnny B. Goode and Bob pulls for Good Lovin' which was the better choice.

It is played at a rapid pace, maybe too quick, and lacks the tribal communion that would occur in versions featured later in this band's career.

Th Bob rap has a nice vocal scat from Jerry and Brent and Bob does not go over the top.

Don't Ease is the only cop out of the night, short and sweet, and off they went to Long Beach.

Such a great show. The band is in top form. And one of the cleanest tapes I've ever heard! Nice pull.

Thank You.

Nice job on recording this - I am enjoying it while I work at my desk and appreciate your effort a lot - I am rediscovering the Dead after many years and am getting so much more out of their music as I grow older - I miss Jerry so much. Thank you for this!

This show is everything the Dead later sang about in Touch of Grey/ In the Dark.

Recording A+ Performance A+

He's Gone, Eyes of the World = very healing.

Love that militant snare lead-in to Truckin, its a Top Five Truckin for me, and to hell with the assassins and assholes of the world, keep on truckin...

Gratitude to Ron, John, Mark, Mike and Flying M Productions.

Thanks also for the intimate liner notes.

Thank you for sharing.

Amazingly fine recording quality and a great show.
Better that a # of DPs and a show I would have loved to have seen. You really should treat yourself to this: Brent is new, but adds some nice touches, Weir is showing a real presence, Garcia is very together, the drums are distinct, and so on. No mention of it in the show, but John Lenon had been shot just a few days before whcih adds a touch of poignanacy to "He's Gone." Top notch.

This sublime early 80s show is a gift. I believe Brent here is so much better than later in his career. Love it!

Thanks so much for adding another drop in the bucket of beloved memories!!!!

This early Brent-era Dead is some of my favorite and this show is played with a special intensity that sparkles through the speakers in this recording... unbelievably crisp... ineffable.

Just stumbled upon this....WOW!!! What a great pull!! One if the best audience recordings I have ever heard!! Killer show too!!!

Thank you!!

Went right to He's Gone and loved the sound

Thanks so much for sharing this

Thanks for getting these out there - just when you've think you've heard it all!

Thank you very much for moving this recording over here.
Hope you all enjoy this concert.
It has been one of my favorites down the years.
Finally retired and have the time to digitize our recordings.
I see that there might be a need for a complete copy of the Feb 1977 swing concert so I will look those tapes up next.