As was mentioned before, this was only the second Fantasy. Jerry sang the lyrics to the Red Rocks version.
I attended the entire summer tour and I think it's accurate to say that Brent took over the lyrics. I don't think it was because Jerry forgot them.
This version dictated how the song would be played...with Brent on lead vocals.
The Jerry solo that followed Brent's verse is blistering.

Admitting a little bias, I really like the Jerry Dear Mr. Fantasy's. Brent did a fine job with later versions, no question, but this was always Jerry's band.

After reading some of the reviews, I was ready for the worst but was pleasantly surprised that the technical issues are not as bad as advertised. There is a lot of tempo and energy in this set, and the audience is 100% behind the boys. Well worth a listen, even a download for the car.

Ugh, what might have been! Because this is a fantastic show but the recording is pooptastic. Everything is there (except Phil who isn't nearly loud enough) but soundwise it's pretty rough. However the energy and creativity on display makes up for the not so rewarding recording. The opening Bertha is charging, the CC Rider has a wonderful slide solo by Bobby and is a delight. For me CC is usually a song I endure rather than enjoy. The Birdsong soars and dips and the rest of the first set is fine. Then there's the second set and it's just that much better. Jerry and company gave one hell of performance this night. Listen to the first set on this Aud and if you want a clearer picture of what the second set sounded like switch over to the Charlie Miller board, wow. Unfortunately the board is missing the first set. Five stars for performance, minus one for sound. Wish I'd been at this show.

Can't hear him at all on this shitty recording.

Levels too low, audience too loud, and no bass lines, it's un-listenable to me.

4 1/2 stars? That's not right.

Burner all the way through. High energy bertha and tasty bird song in the first set. And my favorite trio to open the second set. Get it man

Just heard this Other One. Sick. Jerry gets into some 1969 territory here. Recording captures the essence. Who else was playing rock and roll like this in 1984?

I would give this five stars, but there is something funky about the recording. It's a most excellent Grateful Dead concert - they're pretty good, aren't they?! Scarlet! Scarlet>Touch>Fantasy>Women!!! Great energy, with Jerry hauling butt through the stars, dodging asteroids. I don't know what the dude means about Mr. Fantasy being played only twice - they played it a whole bunch over the years.

Thanks for the upload !!!

i was at this show where my buddy recorded it with a single stereo condensor mike from the lawn on a sony D6. that tape is long gone unfortunately, but i used to listen to it a lot because the jams were worth it. this recording is much better, of course, though a little lacking on the low end to be sure and kinda thin overall. But you gotta love the audience reactions regardless - you really FEEL the crowd with an audience tape and it has a certain ambient ingredient missing on the soundboards.

All said, this was a pretty solid show -- not as strong as the Alpine's that preceded it perhaps -- but with Garcia at his fiery best through a strong second set it holds up nicely. I love the way Brent steals that last verse from Jerry in Dear Mr. Fantasy and Jerry just kinda moans a harmony. also love nearly whispered first verse of The Other One and the wicked playing that follows. You can really hear all the players equally and the drum separation is remarkable through this recording, especially during this jam, for some reason. Sweet show. Listen to it loud wihtout headphones and eq'd with more low end. enjoy!

kick ass amphitheater in ohio, great sound, great party, saw both years-each had great highlights (scarlet/touch/mr.fantasy...day tripper opener in 85) and were just really fun shows...such goods days those were.....

I was 13 and talked my father into taking me and a friend to what would be my first of about a dozen or so shows (I quit going in '92 after some very mediocre Soldier Field shows where it sounded like the band was finished). My dad was a local attorney who wound up running into a few of his former clients. Anyhow, the scene thrilled my virgin eyes and ears with its colorful characters and smoking sounds. Two stars for the recording, three for the song selection, and four for a representative sample of solid mid-80s jamming from the band. Wonderful stuff, I hope we don't lose this rich archive of music in the coming months.

In your review you mention Garcia always did vocals since doing it live...
They only played Mr. Fantasy one other time for a first at Red Rocks on 6-14-84.
I wasn't there but I agree with you in that probably Jerry missed his cue and Brent stepped up and became the perfect front man for Mr. Fantasy.
Prior to this there wasn't much of a precedent
set.
This is classic 84 mid west summer tour. guarantee this was a fun party and good vibes.
3-4 sound (aud)
5-show (iam bias to 84 though)
5-venue (out door ampitheather lawn & pavilion)

This was my first show and I'm truly grateful to find it here in this format. I was about 16 yrs. old growing up in Cleveland, OH. I had been listening to a copy of Europe 72 during the first part of the summer, so when the band came through, I talked my best friend, Dave, into driving us to the show. I'll never forget that evening, out in the country side at Blossom music center, a pavillion, with lawn seats, and actual seats. We were on the lawn. It was a balmy summer night. My first glimpse of deadheads, buses, and my first "trip". I think the band is together, with a strong first set. The second set is a smoking surreal psychedellic fest that burns into the summer night. Some of the vocals may sound a little sloppy, but I believe due to the general festive and casual summer party atmosphere and perhaps a little parying on the bands part too. I know the crowd was lit, and smiles around as the show closed and Dave and I drove home, thinking about seeing them again sometime......

You got it all wrong there Poppy !! Yes it was a great Fantasy! But Garcia always did the vocals from when they started doing it live. THIS is the show that turned it over to Brent. If you were close enough, like I was, Jerry, god love him, forgot the words, Brent jumped in to help and wailed out a great last chorus which I believe was the defining moment of the song. Just another opinion,no hard feelings eh Poppy.

too much audience, band is too low, but you can still hear it, smokin' show. You just don't feel the Phil thunder like you should, but if you are into the audience noise, it's a killer show, and the show, like I said band-wise is stellar!!!

Ah my first show, so nice to finally be able to listen to a decent recording of it. No real deep space explorations here, just a high energy FUN FUN FUN rock n roll show, even Don't Ease Me in was a rollicking good time. Scarlet>Touch>Fantasy is the definite highlight, but also check out the Bird Song and Music Never Stopped.

The Scarlet>Touch>Fantasy is worth the trip

Garcia does the lead vocal on Fantasy, unlike subsequent versions where Brent took the lead

You need this show

Get Busy- Mike