Pretty good shell same playing in the band China doll the real highlight of the show

It's nearly impossible for any band to have that special spark every night, especially the Grateful Dead because they didn't tightly structure their shows. This vulnerability was desirable for both band and audience. Why listen to this night honestly ? Night one has probably the very best Let It Grow every played, and the bird song is stellar too. And the third show has a VERY VERY VERY hot first set with Jerry's right hand particularly on point in terms of the clarity of the note articulation and accuracy. Want an example? Listen to Ramble On Rose from night 3. Jerry really is digging into those notes unusually deep with outstanding effect. That said, the sound quality here is outstanding for an Audience.

Maybe you had too much too fast--this was my first show and I was flabbergasted by the energy. Anybody critical of this show just wasn't there.... It was one for the ages. Now I have heard varying degrees of sound quality, but whatever....I can still remember floating above the stage during wheel...what a feeling!

This is much more lifelike than the SBD. I came here to get Stranger so I could fix the bad patch job on the 1st set SBD, but I don't even think I'll keep it now. The SBD is sterile, clinical, compared to this. PCM is also a plus, it means accurate pitch and no tape flips. Oh, and did I say the sound totally kills? SBD snobs don't know what they're missing by passing this one up.

not bad at all. some very nice moments, as noted earlier, including shakedown outro vocals. no prob with bertha for me. excellent playing in the band...they still stretch it out unlike by '87 when they were usually short as tatoo from fantasy island. thank god jboyaguar hasn't gotten to review this show yet.

Jerry brain is still back stage at the begining of Shake...he forgets lyrics head over foot. Still bi-sexual bobby and brent pick up the slack and form a highly credible version. The Playin is seductive in that it seems to simmer and than bubble over with Mingus type juices. I love the jam after Doll with Brent playing some "Flight of the Navigator" synth with Jerry playing a spooky lead. The Dew is great, and it is a highlight from a post drums Weir cheese-fest. This was the best show from Berkeley in 83 and the recently circulating board of the first set smokes. Here's to the full sbd surfacing real soon. JF

This show is very ragged, but it rocks. The vocal jam in Shakedown is worth the d/l alone. Check it out, especially if you are a fan of 85-88.

I always like checking out a show where there is disagreement, so I decided to stream *some, not all of this show (so take the review with whatever grain of salt you want).

Sound: I side with those who say this is a high quality AUD. Anyone who has read my prior reviews knows that I generally frown on AUDs but I have to admit, this is one of the better AUDs I've heard. Brent is a little low in the mix in the 2d set, but the bass line is identifiable and the vocals are picked up well. It's a 5 as far as AUDs go, probably 3.5-4 overall for sound.

The Show: Again, I haven't checked the whole thing out, but I did take a listen to the Bertha the prior poster flamed and didn't find it nearly as unlistenable. Jerry's leads sound no faster/slower than your typical Bertha, so I'm not sure what he's talking about there. I heard most of the second set and the Shakey is average at best. They do have a creative little vocal "poke around jam" but the actual version of shakedown is nothing to write home about. Ditto for Playin, not one of their better versions. I did like the China Doll with Brent adding some nice shading/leads to the atmosphere. Great Dew, Jerry really throws his weight into it and the climax at the end is a good pay off.

One other note, the suggestion that 82-86 is not a great era for the Dead is one I disagree with. While not the rich field of 73-74 or 77, there are a number of good/great shows from this era, and if you want to talk about funky Shakedowns, there are several from this time period that I would put up against anything they ever did. All that said, THIS particular show I can rate no higher than 3 stars.

Neutral Recommendation

I am in total disagreement with the reviews below. could Bertha be played any faster? can jerrys solo's sound any worse in the 1st set? liking this show is a testament to its fan base. there are a few gems from 82-86 but this isn't one of the ten of them. i heard 10-11-83 and have to say that i am being a little harsh here.

Their is much to love about this recording, my favorite show from a very underated year. The music is hot. The Shakedown>Playing>China Doll: awesome!!
Yes the "poke around" is as good as other reviewers mention. I love the Playing jam which melds beautifully into China Doll. Wheel into an Playing Reprise> Dew!!! Exceptional Stuff!!

The sound is excellent!! You ask yourself is it a SBD or AUD. This tape was a staple in my car during many a late-night drive. I love how well Bobby comes through throughout the show especially during during the Shakedown. This show gets my highest rating and is a must D/L from this era. Get it, you will not be disapointed. Thanks archive!!

This is a good enough recording of what was my most memorable Dead show. The sound is a little "wavy" at times, very appropriate. I agree totally with the other reviewer's comments on the incredible "poke around" part of Shakedown. Basically, we took 2 hits of the best acid I've ever experienced. They started with Stranger, very high energy, and by the refrain I knew I was in some deep shit. I'd never been so high in the middle of a 2nd set as I was at the start of the 1st. By the Shakedown with it's "maybe you had too much too fast" my ego and reality were dissolved in a not totally pleasant way, and China Doll's "it's only shattered" had knew meaning. What words can describe the Tibetan Bell space into The Wheel. And ongoing group orgasm of Sugar Magnolia! Thank God for the Grateful Dead.

This is another amazing AUD. On par with the quality of 3-25-83, but the show is way better. This is one of those shows where you go, "Is this a soundboard?" Classic stuff, and such good quality gives it 5 stars. Definitely get this. Wish I'd seen the band in this period. Morning Dew is monumental!

I, too, have fond memories of this Greek run. Something about the Greek usually brought out the best in the band and this show is no eception. The 2nd set, pre-drums segment will put a huge grin on your face. The quality of this recording is so good that I had to go back online and double check the source. It's almost soundboard quality. Someone found the recording sweet spot at the Greek.

One of the best poke arounds of any Shakedown. Have great memories of this show and for the most part, the tape stands up to my memories. China Doll was a nice treat but it was too rushed. The Dew was very good.