Very good recording for the Gahden. Hats off to Steve Rolfe (the taper). 16th row DFC is the ideal place for capturing the PA sound. Boston Garden is not known for its acoustics, having attended many events there. It was very tall and narrow, with many angular concrete surfaces and balcony overhangs.

Rolfe's position elimated much of the distant boom many AUD tapes have. Nice performace from the band. Brent's organ can be distinctly heard, as well as distinct bass and drums. Well done.

Many NAK700 mic recordings from '80-'81 are very good...check 'em out, especially stuff from Barry Glassberg (taper).

On the forum recently we were talking about "one note" standing ot within a song or solo as a moment of ?deadness" that makes us smile- the last notes of Jerrys run before Franklins ends this night is on of those moments. Very good first set.

What a great recording; it's the kind of recording that makes you forget that you're listening to an audience recording. I love being able to hear the "ting ting" of the ride cymbals. Thanks, Mr. Rolfe and of course: the boys!

Besides the stellar recording, this show is tight and fun; high energy. I just downloaded and look forward to crankin' it up (including the bass) in my car.

This is great recording, Let it Grow>Franklins ending the 1st set is great, it has spirit, Jerry is spry and quick. From the Boston Garden many tapes I've heard seem distant and boomy, but this is crisp and nice.. I also love the Bird Song from this show, just sounds really good to me.
This is the 2nd show I dosed at and the Bird Song sort of like a heavy, sweet wave of sound floated up and all around me as I was getting off. It launched such a nice, happy vibe for me...Then the Terrapin opening the 2nd set was HUGE for me, I was just really getting to know this tune at that time and I jumped in with both feet at the opening chords. I remember being far back on the floor, before there was a tapers section and dancing crazy, spinning and feeling perfect. The jam at the end was intense and powerful. Then Playin in the Band, all I remember is that it was just music, music, music and more pure music that seemed to be endless as it folded over on it self, upside down insdie out, opening and closing like a brilliant colorful flower, twisting and diving and rising happily and playin as free as I felt, what a time, what a truly magical psychedlic night.....the 1st night where it was like that for me, this night stuck with me very well.
A far as collecting this tape, absolutely!! I think it's very clean and has a good snap for most of the songs.. go for it! Raise you bass control a touch, if you feel... Otherwise very nice.

This show remains one of my all-time favorite. True, it trails off at the end, but that doesn't take away from the utter brilliance that runs through the earlier songs.

The highlight of the first set is the Let It Grow, which I would describe as a uniquely perfect specimen. The Dead show themselves as a force of nature in this song, moving and turning together like the wind and rain in a storm. Jerry lays it down at the end of the core jam with an utter certainty that is breathtaking.

The first half of the second set features timeless excursions into the infinite. I saw this show live, and the next day when I told my high school teacher about it, she said that I had heard the music of the spheres.

'nuff said.

This show should not be underestimated...Jerry sounds like he just sniffed paint thinner but the band is methodically pushing themselves in the midst of a spring time run. The Tennessee Jed is long and loping and how bout a Franky to end the first set! Second set has real eccentric playing until He's Gone and its soulful strutting. The only other thing I will mention is that Steve Rolfe taped this show and he is a master! The mix is a little Phil-lite but shows the great combo guitar work of Jerry-Bob and tinkly piano from Brent. A nice addition to any scrappy collection.