agree with Kodos that this show was good though just a warm up for night two. I only kept Greatest Story Ever Told > Promised Land and Brother Esau in the first set. Jerry was not in great voice during the run and it was tough coming across anything to save.

I was able to salvage 38:39 out of the second set by fading in the PITB jam > UJB and cutting out most of Drumz > Space and China Doll to have the PITB Reprise flow seamlessly from Drumz. It's an interesting edit. Overall average show at best with a healthy amount of clean reverb. I prefer this recording which softens Jerry’s vocal performance.

These were the first shows I took my fiance to (now my wife of 22 years) . We rode the "El" around Chicago for 3 days living in a dream. Not the greatest shows ever in the history of the Dead, but they were starting to get their groove back after a rather rocky '86. I'll never forget these.

This was my first show and all I really recall was the Scarlet 2nd set opener and everyone going crazy. I was almost in the very back of the arena with my girlfriend and a bunch of friends from school. Had no real clue about what was going on but had a blast!-but when I realized that everyone was going back the NEXT night for show#2, I couldn't believe that they could possibly duplicate the experience.

They played their asses off this tour,and this one is hot !Great audience quality.

This is the same version that I have stretched out on tape from being overplayed. The sound is a good audience recording which has all the energy & stomp of the crowd included.

This was one of the best shows I every had the opportunity to experience. Virtually all songs were at minimum played very well; but quite a few were energy-blinding performances.

At the end of Promised Land, when Phil appropriately places his bomb (you have to listen for it, too low of a frequency for most speakers to pick it up fully), leading to the "perfect ending"... if you haven't jumped out of your seat in excitement, your dead.

When this version of GSET & Promised Land is played, I always seem to get drawn away from what I am doing to listen & play my air-guitar. (A Jerry/Phil guitar combined!)

Scarlet-Fire is very, very good too. Even regular songs song great this night.

I consider this a solid must have for those who love the group-mind energy that was lost somewhere along the way... This early '87 post-coma show is a renewal where everything is new again for the band & us heads.

The UIC Pavilion was fairly small for an arena and it was my first show since Jerry's comeback.

The double Bobby opener of GSET and Promised was really hot. I never cared much for Push. The two Brent songs are playeed well and the Deal is hot.

This Scarlet-Fire is one of the best from 1987. The Playin' is good and the UJB was well done. I loved hearing China Doll out of space and thought it was a beautiful version. The GDTRFB-Sugar Mag ending definitely charged up the show. The US Blues is also well done.

I remember leaving this show so excited and feeling like the Dead were a new band. Jerry sounded much better than I had heard him in 84-86 and the band was energetic and tight. My friends had to drive back to Milwuakee after the show to go to school on Friday. I have no idea why, but my Mom called in sick for me so I got to sleep in at my sister's in Chicago.

1st: Get yourself pumped up with "Greatest." Standard version of this adrenalin-manufacturing song. Surprise!, because we're off to a serene but charged journey to "The Promised Land." A good-natured "Push" follows. "Never Trust" is tightly reigned by Jerry. "El Paso" is a fine sought after detour, but during Jerry's solo it sounds as if he's playing lead for another song. Tho, his soloing has been beautiful all night, consider his work on "Row." It's as if soft fingertips are lavished over your body... "Esau"'s up next, making this set a good example of not judging a set by song-choices alone. BTW, this version is spry. The same can be said of "Far From Me." But, please, no more second-rate tunes. Alright, the warmly appreciative crowd is treated to a perky, tho not blazing, "Deal." Good sign for 2nd tho: Jerry's instrument is all aces.

2nd Set: The first "Scarlet" in over a week is joyously received. Peppy, fluffy version leads to its life-partner. Jerry's electrifying my spectral ass with his playing on "Fire." My body's shaking with the announcement that we're "Playing." The strength of Jerry's lyrical notes are dominating the evening. "Uncle" is well-performed tho Jerry's croaking. "Drums" is longer than most '87 versions..."Space" is not otherworldy, but Jerry's creating music of interest tonight. The solemn, sobering construct of "China" stiffens any movement of mine...Decent version. I'd be thrilled tho, going from "China" to "GDTRFB," an irony, but good times for me...No tires will be harmed in playing this version, but it's good times nonetheless. As is "Sugar," and "US Blues." Again, I hate to dwell, but without the directness/the calling to attention of Jerry's instrument, this show would have been average.

More of a three and a half (equal to 4/7) than 3.

The Far From Me>Deal this night was super high energy. Great recording for an audience. This show was really good althought just a warm up for night 2. REally, check out the FFM>Deal, you WONT be disappointed!

the china doll made me cry, the goodtime blues fired me up and the deal had me shakin in my boots. this turned out to be the smallest venue i would ever catch the boys and after more shows than I can remember seeing, this is one of my top 5 favorites. Excellent energy for a recently coma'd jerry

I walked into this show thinking I knew everything that the live concert experience had to offer. Hell, I'd seen 3 Dead shows by now...all pre-coma...so I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the Dead were all about...until this night stood me on my head and shook everything I thought I knew until it was completely imperceptible, and then it gave me a whole new point of reference...BLISS. I'd never really experienced true BLISS at a concert until this night.

First off, the listless Jerry of my first 3 shows was replaced with a downright gregarious, engaging and energetic Jerry...movin', smilin', and, most importantly, absolutely tearin' up the Tiger...and the rest of the band was right there with him...incredible energy...not quite as thick as the second night, but still quite palpable.

I haven't heard the recording, so I don't know what it sounds like, but irregardless, I'm giving this show 5 stars because it is the big bang that created my universe that I have thrived in for 16 years now.

Before the second set started...as I was still digesting the most incredible Deal I had ever heard...I told my friend Gary that if they played Scarlet>Fire, I'd be the happiest man on earth...and what did they come out with...


...I was the happiest man on earth...and still am...