I'd love to find a recording of the tuning for 2nd set from the moment they went on stage. I used to have Bob Messina's audience recording which captures a beautiful keyboard flourish. It really sets the tone. One thing that the board recording does not capture is the way Phil shredded the PA during the Dew. Later, I heard that he'd discovered how to crack the stack during summer tour and they were going to replace the whole PA after Worcester so he just went at it with no mercy.

Show was amazing in the sweet spot in FOB.
My tape is uncut. Not gonna check to see what happened here, but few tapes were uncut this night. Richmond rocked. Gotta love old brick buildings.

I'm always kind of amused by the comments regarding the sound quality of the board recording. This night for example has a review that says Healy was on his game. The straight from the board tape is a reflection of the building, not Healy's game. None of the sports arenas were designed for music and their acoustics were mostly both awful and unique. Tuning the PA to overcome the building's shortcomings was the magic and that's why some board tapes sound so weird.

There were hundreds of people outside with tickets trying to get in as show started and these administrative morons had no idea what the hell they were doing. Standing outside with a ticket hearing Bertha and you couldn't get in the door. People chanting the Who...The Who......that rececenly had a show where a number of people had been trampled to death. Very ugly scene outside that night. The show was good...organization was not. They were banned from Richmond after that by the powers that be which is damn shame cause it wasn't the the fans that caused the problem. JGB did play there in 93...didn't see it but heard it was the best show of the tour. Again...shame cause they were going to play at the racetrack in summer of 87 but they were banned. They played Roanoke Virginia instead. Both good shows.

Great sound
Killer Southern dip in the Fall Tour

Both shows killed it at 85 Richmond run!
Listening to this now, 30 years ago hard to believe
Too many highlights to list! Crisp board, super fun!

This is a perfect example of how good Healy was on a good night. There are some really good boards around from this era. This sounds killer.

As much as I appreciate Bobby, I am hearing Sedula. It can go both ways. Abrupt entries into rockers when the Dew ends is in bad taste. The Dew should simply end unless they are going back into UJB>Playing of course. Rochester 1980 is a classic case in point. With Sugar Magnolia starting up the lone Iko>Dew could not be properly acknowledged. Lovelight should have been played when Garcia was good. Estimated solos should never be interrupted to wrap up your song etc...

First off-- this is a great show, so don't take the criticism too seriously.

Highlights-- Dupree's and China Doll

Bertha is a great start to a great show. Good rendition. Greatest Story, though it ain't one of my favorite songs, is excellent. Dupree's is inexplicably great. CC Rider is really good and would be better if Bob's slide solo were louder. I think it's Weir. It is great slide playing. Speaking of the sound, other than what I just mentioned, the sound on this show is outstanding: 5 stars. Althea is great musically, but what's a Dead show w/o Jerry forgetting a few lyrics? Esau-- another one that's not a fav-- is well played. Candy Man is excellent. Let it Grow is good. Iko is fun as usual. Estimated is particularly tight! Uncle-- don't mind more forgotten lyrics-- this Uncle John's Band flows like a winding stream, beautifully!!! China Doll is gorgeous, even better than usual methinks. Oh, it includes a brief Playin' tease. Dew? Well, it's Morning Dew-- what more do you want? Throwing Stones w/ a brief NFA tease and Love Light are just fine. The Baby Blue encore is a nice way to end this one.

Very sweet 85' show.. from start to finish.

Another worthy Dew from the 80's 9/18/197, MSG, NY,NY

Sidebar @ Sedula, Like these reviews everyone has their own opinion, but the reviews and ratings are about the show. Casting a 'rating' based on someone else personal opinion is a great disservice to all of us. Like him or not Bobby was a founding member and HUGE contributor to the over all success and longevity of the GD. Fortunately in this case my review of you as a class A loser is consistent with the review of the great show. Five Stars!!!

Enjoying this show from almost 25 years ago...while sitting in an office just minutes away from where it went down.

2:00 - 3:30 Jerry gets off good

Other great Dew's are Hartford 3/27/87 and Hartford 3/18/90. Both are flawless .

Very distinct Playin' Reprise Intro played by Jerry. But the band goes to Drumz. Maybe Weir felt like a toke break or something. :)

Heavy hammered Estimated, a good transition version between the Poppy earlier versions and the salty wolf later versions. Faster tempo than usual works well. Brent, Jerry, Phil, and all are on point.

This second set is great. Shorter than the previous night, but still equally creative. Can't wait to listen to this Dew......

Sedula, who should have he picked? You?

peeps like you, i dont get.

Now this show... Morning Dew is phenomenal. I would say it is easily the best 1980's Dew I have ever heard, I would sure love to hear other great Morning Dews if peeps have suggestions! But it is an absolutely stellar version, sound quality is great, phil sounds AWESOME, bobby's wacky sounds are perfect, brent is brent (fucking amazing) and jerry plays great, and ik his voice is not very good, but i love it anyways. I love all his different voices. The Throwing Stones is also really really good, and thats coming from someone who ALWAYS skips that tune, really great version.

Havent given the show enough listening, but this show deserves a 5 star rating on just the last two set closing tunes and sound quality.

Ahh phil has such great bombs in this one, such a AWESOME DEW!

Someone below said: "By the time Bobby ripped into Estimated I had found my new idol."

BAD choice!!!

The rating is for choice of an idol! (lowest rating possible)

Wonderful. I usualy give five stars to shows from my favorite years (74,77,78,89,90) but this
earned it. The sound quality is also very good. You can hear a little tape hiss in the quiet moments but not much. Phil is nice and high in the mix.

when i play this , it comes into my windows media player as on big file. the songs arent seperated and i cant burn or sync this way. can anyone help me ? many thanks.
-old dead head from richmond

Great show- I can still here Althea in my head!
Guy we were partying with before show starts arresting everyone after- Told us to get the hell out of parking lot- What a strange trip-

from china-morning dew its one thing spine tingling

You know this is the beauty of this site. you can go to a show that has been downloaded 50,000 times then go to the show before or after, and it be just as good if not better. I LOVE THIS SITE! Any way this first set is grate. I would have like to have seen an "all over now" in place of "CC rider". but that is just an opinion.
The secon set was amazing as well. very nice song selection here. Like the "Aiko",Estimated,U.J.B.,China doll! Magnificent. then you have the DEW out of drums. and the placement of morning dew says to me that it was all emotion and feeling right then. Jerry wanted to play it right then! I love it! a great addition to your 85' collection for sure.

peace.

First tape I ever had (~86). It was crusty, hissy, and choppy, but never failed to please. Hearing the Space into Dew is what I consider quintessential, natural Dead. IMHO, it was never about THE SHOW, it was about what makes you keep coming back for more; that instance when the boys brought it all together when the game plan busted and their natural ability to create art would take over. And for me, it is the transition into Dew here. Nice to hear a clean SBD version. However, the audience hissy'ness is still preferable. I guess it is nostalgic for me.

This was also my first show and I went with no clue what the Dead were or what type of music they played. I walked around and checked people out for most of the first set but by the time the second set started I was glued to the stage. At the time I was into 80's punk music and reggae (went to a lot of Bad Brains shows growing up) and I didn't even know a live band could sound like that. By the time Bobby ripped into Estimated I had found my new idol. I was hooked. The Dew out of Space is the highlight in my opinion. This was a perfect spot for the song and it always added an extra touch to an already dramatic song. The second set of this show is a great example of solid Dead. They have gone at it with a lot more ferocity at other times but this second set is clean and prime like a studio release. Good SB should be easy to find of this night. The previous night is available on Dick's Picks, which brings up my only bone to pick with this show. Being that this was my first show and had the choice of going to Fri or Sat night I picked Sat. How could I have known that my first show could have been the all time schorcher that is 11/1/85. If you've never heard it, get it. The Band goes off and pulls out one of the craziest second sets they ever played.

This was my first show and is still my favorite.
I loved the whole thing but Morning Dew got me for life.
I am glad I can re-live it here.

87VES'R

Damn.

Folks, in my very humble yet strong Opinion....this has got to be one of the most Powerful moments of this year...if not the mid-80s.

To see (or hear) what I'm referring to, check out the China Doll. The FOB source is better because it gives a better....SPOOKIER....sense of Jerry at his depth-best.

This guy played with his heart on stage.

AMAZING.

I think the head lines on the review in the paper the next day said the rain clouds outside where not as thick as the Pot smoke inside the coliseum. I believe there where over 75 arrest (one person for wearing the american flag) The night before was a great show but the second set this night smoked Aiko to Drums is a filler for any Dicks pick - the Jam's into Uncle Jerry's Band & China Doll are great. Short one but a good one - sound mix is nice - Gotta love those Southern Cops! The light show during Candyman was great too!

Wow 20yrs ago we were blown away from the previous night, yes they came out and gave another great show. I am a big let it Grow Fan, this night is a great example of the tune. Aiko! A crowd pleaser for certain.The DEW! Wow that Band always topped off a great night with the coolest tune about atomic uglieness, great crescendo as usual. I agree with all that this overshadowed by the previous night. It is agreat example of when they were on they were on. I never get tired of listening to these nights. 4 show, shitty scene outside, 4recording and the BEST Site around folks.

Candyman is great on this and the whole first set is really solid. CC Rider which they were playing more frequently in '85 is exceptional and sets the stage for later. I may be nitpicking but this does not reach the steller heights of some of the others from the year but is solid nonetheless. The Let it Grow is long and bangs it out but closes a short 8 song set I. Set II opener of Aiko is inspired and rockin listen to Phil and Jer go back and forth at the end!

The band absolutely rips the entire show. A fantastic tape to have. One drawback: it runs too fast & could use some pitch correction. Not much, but try to play along with the songs when you're in tune & you'll find that your guitar is about a quarter-step flat.

sound is superb, playing is superb, couple blemishes, but nothing to worry you about... the snippet cut from the beginning of iko isn't enough to worry about.. also, i had no trouble putting the encore where it goes, and burning it with disc 2..

"yonder stands your orphan, with his gun."

It's a shame that the good folks at Grateful Dead Productions didn't have the foresight to release this show as a companion to DP21 as they did with the May '77 releases that made up DP29 because this is one great show.

As noted in the liner notes to DP21, there was some overall weirdness that started at the Halloween show in South Carolina that carried over and northward to Richmond for the two night run there. This review is limited to my opinions and impressions of the 2d set.

Iko starts off on a very jangly vibe, real loose and bumpy, with some solid Garcia vocals and Mydland shadings. Weir shifts gears quickly and affirmatively with a well-delivered Estimated Prophet that melts into an outro jam for several minutes before landing at Uncle John's doorstep. To me, Garcia was a double threat. Emotionally, his voice leant poignancy, vibrancy, creativity, and many other adjectives to the proceedings, and naturally, the notes he pulled from Wolf, Tiger, and his other axes speak for themself. Here its the vocal lead that really gets me going, and this is particularly so during a great China Doll that Garcia lends a real contemplative perspective to, hitting the words hard, really letting them sink in, and then flavoring his vocal stew with the memorable leads we all know and love.

Drums>Space continues the rub of buzzing, clicking, and other unusual sounds that is the signature sound of this segment from '85. Space melts into a very strong Morning Dew that again, Jerry just imbues with a force, power and energy that only he could provide. As might be expected, the Stones>Lovelight seems a wee bit anti-climactic, but are both solid. Baby Blue is a great encore, and were it not for the prior night, I think this show would get far greater attention.

One note on your various downloading choices. This is a crystal clear SBD, with an outstanding mix. I had an AUD version for many years that sounded like the boys were in a canyon, so for those that like that audience mix, give in and grab a top notch SBD.

I'd give it 4.5 if it were an option, but since it's not, I'm going 4 stars, and a high recommendation.

ENJOY

PS .. It goes without saying that the people at the Archive have literally fulfilled the dreams of many DeadHeads by giving us what is essentially the "skeleton key" into the Vault. I cannot thank you all enough for putting all of this wonderful music up on the Internet and making it available to the masses.

by the previous evening. This show is just as crisp and has a great song list. The Morning Dew is the gem IMHO.

Solid quality board for the period.

Nicely played...great sound! I did not think I'd like this from the setlist but once I streamed it to check out there was no doubt...definte dl...the word "sweetness" applies wholeheartedly here!!!

great sound quality here and pretty good show ..the sound quality is best

Way over shadowed by the previous night but very worth the time and effort. Well played and well mixed by Healy. I like Jerry's sound and his picking is sharp, especially the 2nd solo during UJB. Bob does break out the slide a little too much but it's not out of tune. Also not listed is a little Playin Jam out of China Doll into the drums.

Morning Dew lovers need this show. I have always liked the way they spaced into this Dew and Phil has a couple blowouts during the middle jam that must have driven Healy nuts. Great dynamics and while the end is not as long as Barton Hall it is very moving. "Guess it doesn't matter, anyway!"

It's a little shorter (7:45) than the one's leading up to this (6/22, 7/14, 8/31 all are close to a full minute longer), but it's very strong. One of my favorite '85 Altheas.

This is one of my favs. The sound is absoulutly THE BEST!! The show openers are excellent, high energy. The Aiko is fun, classic Jerry and Brent vocals at the end. Cool effects on Estimated if im not mistaken. I cannot stress the sound quality and energy level of this recording/performance. Bravo!! First time i listened to this I was watching Fantasia with the volume down. The two went hand in hand. Dont ask me why, maybe i was...oh nevermind hahaha

This show is worth grabbing just for the Morning Dew out of space. It's amazing. The Baby Blue encore is also the best I've ever heard. This show contains my favorite second set of the 80's and 90's. The China Doll is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.
Sound quality is good, but the question marks in the lineage sound like an analog generation or two.
It still sounds sweet when you crank it up!
5 stars for sure.
adios - doubleA

The last time the Boys played the Rich. Col.
They were 'banned" after many people were arrested in a rainstorm before the show.
Hence the BERTHA opener.