Internet Archive's in-browser audio with external links "theater" requires JavaScript to be enabled. It appears your browser does not have it turned on. Please see your browser settings for this feature.

Grateful Dead Live at Seattle Center Coliseum on 1981-08-14

by Grateful Dead

Publication date: 1981-08-14 ( check for other copies)

Topics: Mark Severson, David Minches

Collection: GratefulDead

Band/Artist: Grateful Dead

Resource: DeadLists Project

Set 1

New Minglewood Blues
Sugaree
On The Road Again
Peggy-O
Beat It On Down The Line
Brown Eyed Women ->
Little Red Rooster
Don't Ease Me In
Looks Like Rain
Bertha ->
The Promised Land

Set 2

Might As Well ->
Samson And Delilah
Ship Of Fools
Playing In The Band ->
China Cat Sunflower ->
I Know You Rider ->
Space ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Playing In The Band ->
Wharf Rat ->
I Need A Miracle ->
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad ->
Johnny B. Goode

Encore
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Notes

* cross fade at 0:17 to cover tape flip

Addeddate: 2008-08-10 07:51:52

Identifier: gd1981-08-14.aud.severson.91768.flac1644

Lineage: Master played back on Nak Dragon> Grace Lunatec V3 (24/96)> Digital Audio Labs Card Deluxe> Adobe Audition 2.0> (dither/downsample)> FLAC encoding

Location: Seattle, WA

Source: 3 Nak 700s with 2 carcoid, center omni head> Sony TC-D5 (2 Maxell UD XL-IIs)

Taped by: Mark Severson

Transferred by: David Minches

Type: sound

Venue: Seattle Center Coliseum

Year: 1981

plus-circle Add Review

comment
Reviews

Reviewer: kbmill - - August 19, 2015
Subject: bread crumb

Baby Blue. The first in 7 years for a song that was played sparingly even before that, but pretty frequently from now on. I always thought it was a really lovely encore, not unlike Brokedown, sending everyone out into the night quietly. Like many of Jerry's best, the beauty of his playing and his vocals belies the song's message.

Reviewer: MichaelTurner-sfs - - August 14, 2014
Subject: re High Points 1981

I fully agree. In 1981 the pre-coma Brent-era Dead was at it's peak. Brent had finally assimilated into the band (thanks in part to the extensive rehearsals/concerts at the Warfield & Radio City). Jerry was riding high (hadn't started fading yet). And there were a lot of chestnuts brought back - Bird Song, To Lay Me Down, Deep Elem, On The Road Again. It was like a perfect musical storm.

For me the arc began post-Radio City with that November 1980 mini-tour, and kept growing throughout 1981 - soaring by the end of the summer and hitting jaw-dropping escape velocity in that 9/11-13/81 Greek run (9/12/81 is in a class all by itself). Fall kept it burning and we got perhaps the best NYE show of the Brent era - 12/31/81 (I don't think they matched that until the Hornsby-Branford fusion night of 12/31/90). They stayed in the zone pretty much through Summer 1982. Then Fall tour came and something changed. But that period of November 1980 - September 1982 remains one of my alltime favorite periods.

Oh, and this Seattle show is excellent! Thanks for posting!

Reviewer: chris phillips - - March 1, 2013
Subject: high points 1981

Jerry had it all going for him in 1981. The first set was long, creative and very well played. Along with 9/12, 12/5 and 12/30 this was one of the better first sets of the year. Second set highlight other than the encore was Ship. Baby Blue as a breakout was astonishing at that point and rivals any subsequent versions. Good year to be out west.
Seattle Center was nice for the Dead (GA), like Rochester or Springfield...

Reviewer: njpg - - August 14, 2011
Subject: Not bad

Good show

Reviewer: erik65 - - August 14, 2011
Subject: sound quality not very good

I'd describe it as listening from the hallway. With the doors shut.

Reviewer: Folkhippy - - January 31, 2010
Subject: WOW!

Watch out folks, this show will blow you right off your computer chair. Thanks to the GDLG for pointing this one my way. This show is lightning hot with the band firing on all cylinders! Check out the super fast Playin'>China Cat! This show is just full of chemical driven energy! I love it! Nice Sugaree and On the Road Again. The whole second set is amazing! Check it out!

Reviewer: bigmikesierra - - May 1, 2009
Subject: GD/Seattle-8/14/81

As I recall it was a beautiful summer day at the Seattle Worlds Fair Grounds and people from all over the country arrived at this gig. Having just played Utah two days before the song lists looked hot and the band was as on as possible w/ one of the hottest second sets in history. I Need a Miracle into Going down the Road was a highlight. Its All Over Now Baby Blue was an unforgetable version and I believe the first time they played it since the sixties. A must hear. Mike Sierra

13,635 Views

18 Favorites

7 Reviews