Grateful Dead

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My first show and probably the very best as well...And after 273 over 17 years I believe that speaks for it's selfThe ABSOLUTE BEST Scarlet>Fire of the entire spring tour. First Jack-A-Roe, And THE ABSOLUTE BEST The Other One of all time(even being only one verse)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The band's dynamics were at their very best during this show and the one prior(the evening before which unfortunantly I did not attend). They made full use of the venue's steller acoustics(which are even with today's technology, is still considered to have the finest acoustics in the world). I have heard recordings of every single show of 1977's Magical Spring Tour, and though Cornell has been "anointed" as the Crown Jewel of this springtime run, it is truely MY belief that this one at very least ranks equally with Cornell. Cornell was a bit more raw and "in your face" Jamming, where May 13th(friday) in Chicago, was way more interesting musically. I mean the mere fact that during the Other One, Which the band wove like a tapestry only rivaled by the very best dark star jams. That the audience this night were treated to Garcia soloing BY HIMSELF for over three minutes and playing some of the most interestingly subtle and fluid guitar runs that were just brilliant in their energy and prowess and well vertuosity. That 15 minutes past before the band settled on the right moment to actually go for the first verse and so completely made their musical point that the second verse was just not even necessary for what had already gone down. For Stella Blue could no longer wait to emerge from fury of Garcia's build up to Weir's one verse reading of "Spanish Lady Come To Me". Garcia lead every soul in that wonderful and elegant room into what I also fell was the ABSOLUTE BEST reading of Stella Blue I've ever had the pleasure of hearing(and I would hear Stella again another 32 times during the next 17 years). Please, if you can, listen to this one!!!!! May I suggest late on a saturday evenig(any evening late). Light some candles tune the version of the recording to the room with your equalizer. Lay back and let nothing disturb you for the duration.

One of our friends couldn't make it to the show that night so he was able to tape it from the Radio. What a bonus for everybody! We were able to go to the show and still have the radio tape.

The transition, interplay, dynamics all stunning. Looks Like Rain, while never a fav is really beautiful. The Other One...'nuf said. and the clowning around - part of a truly brilliant run of chicago shows over a few years - no?

this is one of my favorite shows, although sadly i dont have the Other One from that evening... The Looks like Rain, Jack a Roe, Ramble on Rose, Cassidy, Brown Eyed Women and Stella Blue... just shine like gems....

I was on the second stop of my Ann Arbor to Portland expedition. I worked for EPA and was heading to my temporary assignment in Portland and stayed with a Deadhead friend in Chicago who got us tix to this show. Alas, I celebrated a bit too much before the show to remember much. I'd love to get a recording- maybe it would jog my memory. I was able to figure out which night I attended because the Portland Trailblazers won the game that sent them into the championship series that night. The trip west was great and I still live in Portland and love it. I fondly remember the Dead shows I saw during their last two visits to Eugene, OR...

I was going to school in Champaign at the time and came up to see this show - had what was claimed to be something left over from the Bear (a friend of my roomate had it stored and split it with me) and I will never forget it. The Auditorium was one of the best places to see anyone due to the "Acoustically Perfect" arena of this venue - there's even a placard that attests to this fact. I remember vividly the solo that Jerry went into and the only reason it didn't last longer was the crowd started a few hoots and hollers - I really think that if everyone had kept quiet, he would have continued even longer. It was phenomenal. This was also the first show that made me openly weep. Stella Blue. I, too, have never seen it performed with such majesty and have seen them do it many times later but never like this show. My seats were about 15 rows back and just off to the side, about as perfect as one could get. Absolutely my favorite show. "If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will...." Doc