Jack Straw, Peggy-O, Minglewood Blues, Candyman, My Brother Esau, Tennessee Jed, Hell In A Bucket-> Don't Ease Me In Sugar Magnolia-> Touch Of Gray, Estimated Prophet-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> Throwing Stones-> Not Fade Away, E: Brokedown Palace Big Boss Man-> Iko Iko, Midnight Hour, Goodnight Irene*
Reviewer:
zzzboxofrainzzz
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December 27, 2017
Subject:
Love the Eyes
On balance, an okay show. But there were some high points, especially the Estimated>Eyes. At the end of the day, all played well, just a very ordinary set list other than Big Boss Man and Good Night Irene. Also, the long breaks between 1st set tunes while they read off the stations broadcasting the show drove me nuts!! Yes, I spent NYE 83/84 at a small gathering in NYC listening to the show.
Reviewer:
ProfessorIguanaDeadZoneProducer -
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December 21, 2009
Subject:
A Very Good New Year's Show...
...but it's really tough to rate when you consider what the previous year offered! As others have commented, Jerry's vocals are, well, not so good. But, as always, he makes up for it with his virtuoso playing, especially on Estimated.
Reviewer:
mojojohn
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July 4, 2007
Subject:
Alot of Gems
I also caught this one on the radio in NYC that night. I think Minglewood is the tightest I've ever heard and Candyman is great too. They ended the 1st set with a spot on Don't Ease. I agree that Jerry's voice was not in top form that night, but his playing more than made up for it.
Sugar Mag was pretty good. Touch of Grey was touch and go on singing but I liked Jerry's solo because it wasn't the formula solo we heard so often in later years. What else can I say...Estimated/Eyes...loved it. Pretty standard list of what the Dead were doing in the mid 80's. And...Good Night Irene was a really nice change of pace.
Reviewer:
Purple Gel
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June 2, 2006
Subject:
Goodnight Irene
This is a fairly good show, although certainly average for what we expected on NYE. The first set just kind of plods along, and the second set, with the exception of a very sweet Prophet>Eyes, is quite ordinary and short. Even the third set was not particularly inspiring, The Brokedown Palace is very nice, but the Big Boss Man is uninspired, and the Aiko and Midnight hour are nice but very short (Is this the shortest complete Aiko ever, or what?)
To me the final song made the whole night worth it. No-one could identify what was gonna be played. Jerry and the band were kind of in a huddle as he quietly played out the chords for the song. It seemed as if he was teaching them the chords right there on stage. As Goodnight Irene started in earnest, the rest of the band just seemed to follow Jerry's lead into a sweet jammed version of one of the great folk/blues tunes of all time, and a very appropriate final song of the night. Mariah Muldaur did a great job of providing very nice backup vocals. To me this was one of the few times that I felt that we were witnessing the boys really taking a chance and playing a song that most were not very familiar with playing, and pulling it off with great success. Bob comes to the microphone after and says "Mighty Fine", summing up the whole situation. I always thought that maybe we would see this song again sometime, but in retrospect I am glad we didn't. this was one of those magic moments and that magic would have been almost impossible to recapture.
Reviewer:
lilrichwhiteboy
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September 26, 2005
Subject:
Average Show.
Maybe even less so. You can definitely hear the beginnings of Jerry's voice deteriorating (if not from earlier in the year.)
Nothing special here, except Good Night Irene; which is the only curiosity.
Reviewer:
capn doubledose
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April 30, 2005
Subject:
Very nice
Picks up steam with eyes and does not let up.
Reviewer:
tripstar
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October 13, 2004
Subject:
One of the best
I have been listening to this set for twenty years. The Estimated, Eyes is the best I ever heard. When Jerry rises after the second verse of eyes the level of the band, crowd and Jerry are incredibal. If you understand the energy listen closly to this. It still brings tears to my eyes. Enjoy
Reviewer:
Chester Burnett
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September 27, 2004
Subject:
Guilty Pleasure
I'm not sure why I like this show so much. The sound is very good but there is a lot of hiss. In addition, the set list is pretty typical for the time, with the exception of Good Night Irene, which really has a cool arrangement. I also like the Brokedown Palace and Midnite Hour. I would not make this show my first choice to download but if you want to listen to something that you'll surely listen to more than once, this is one of those shows.
Reviewer:
GJR
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July 15, 2004
Subject:
Missing Tracks
This was live in the NYC area on WNEW 102.7fm, and I can assume elsewhere. I stayed up and taped this. The Brother Esau is crispy, the throwing stones is too and the Estimated> Eyes is a barn-burner. Although, I was hoping to get the name of the tracks I couldn't identify for years. Somewhere in the first set, the members of the Band joined in and they did a couple of songs. One of the songs was Mystery Train, that I know for sure, but there were others. I lost the tape I made that night and don't have a reference anymore. Anyone know? In any case, this is a fun show and one I would suggest if your up for a good time.
Reviewer:
Ron Keyser
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July 8, 2004
Subject:
Flaws
Set II
Touch... Drop out approx. 23 secs. into it...
Easy to fix.
Eyes Of The World... there is a drop in the right channel... Not a drop out but a severe drop in levels at approx.
8:25 into it... Again... not too tough a fix. I used Sound Forge
V6.0 and the flaws are un-noticable now.
Reviewer:
snap,pro -
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June 28, 2004
Subject:
a night bigger than the Dead
The Band opened the show, one of their first gigs since they reformed after Robbie Robertson left, a la Last Waltz. The Band was so awesome that the Dead just seemed flat in comparison. I believe the show was broadcast live and the Dead sounded a bit nervous to me. But maybe another listen 20 years later will change my opinion. Nonetheless, it was a fun night.
FYI, Maria Muldower sang on the encores.
Reviewer:
jeffsetz
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June 24, 2004
Subject:
smokin' NYE show
I was at this show and had a blast. Great to see the boys back in SF on NYE for the 1st time since Winterland's closing. This show has many highlights but the real gem is an unbelievable Estimated->Eyes that just rips. It remains my all-time favorite pairing.
Reviewer:
BenKarm
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June 24, 2004
Subject:
Happy New Years
Great first set. Peggy O and Candyman were incredible. Everyone was partying so much during the midnight set but the music was good and kept pace though no real standouts. The third set was fun and full of surprises. Phil tried to start Morning Dew once but Jerry was set on doing the Goodnight Irene with Rick Danko.
Yes, the encore was after the second set. I'm sure it was Bill Graham rushing to the stage to make sure the Dead didn't leave and stay for a 3rd set.