I thought these 2 shows were very decent when I saw them. I left very happy. I'll give them both 4 for music, but a 5 for the vibe and experience. Only other Frost's I saw were the first in 82 that were epic.

Does anyone remember at these shows, either the first or second one some guy, who obviously was a friend of the band sitting on the lip of the stage in front of the speakers grooving to the crowd reaction. He was like a 50 year old guy that didn't look at all like a head.

I'm curious who he was!

I love this show. I love 86, suck on it.

First set is definitely better than the second set here, at least for me. West LA Fadeaway here is one of the better versions I've heard. Desolation Row and Jed were quite good also. Not a fan of the later Minglewood's, but that's more of a personal preference thing than a performance one. Let it Grow and Hell in a Bucket are nice with some great jamming on the former. Pretty much everything you want out of a Let it Grow.

Estimated Prophet was excellent, and along with the West LA Fadeaway from the first set, is the highlight of what is an otherwise dull show to me. After Estimated, though, this show lost me. Not a fan of fast Eyes of the World and this one is no different. Rest of the second set is rather uninspired and pedestrian.

Three stars for a ho-hum show, but definitely check out the Fadeaway and Estimated.

1986 was my senior year in high school. I was at this show with my mother (it was Mother's Day). Although I had already come to love the storm of color and celebration that was the Grateful Dead during this era, it was during Eyes of the World at this show that I found the serene, alive place in the center of the storm. Just breathe deeply as you listen, and you'll feel the flood of joy and exuberance that characterized the feeling in the crowd, and inspired the band on this beautiful sunny day in Palo Alto.

Certainly has many high points, but Mr_Mystery
and others are perceptive enough to detect this
show's myriad shorcomings in terms of precision and cohesion.
1986 is one of the VERY FEW years that I feel is
fair to malign. Much has been written about the sloppiness of this period, and the blame has to be placed largely on Jerry. He does badly rush
the show, and wander horribly about the beat.
I get the sense he wants the show to be over while
still doing his duty for the fans.
Maybe its the Frost, a stunningly beautiful venue
that's just too languid for its own good. Even the
formidable 1982 shows (some of my favorites) are
a little on the loose side.
Jerry did an acoustic show here with Kahn years later that was horribly slipshot and indifferent.
Many years later, Phil Lesh and Friends came and
rolled out a masterful performance that demonstrated his consummate artistry.
I had lived with 10 minutes walking distance of the Frost for most of the last 20 years and long
for the day when they re-open it for topnotch shows again

What a way to begin my life with the Dead. My mom bought me tix through mail order for my 16th B-Day. Best present I ever received. Upon entering the beautiful grounds of Frost I remember getting some great visions of colorful people and smiles were everywhere. For those lucky few who scored Frost tix it was a joyous occasion indeed. The show is truly spectacular. The moment I "got it" was during 'Let it Grow'. I remember this very well. An old hippie noticed me "getting it" and he passed me a number. Everything just sailed from then on out.

Awesome SBD recording! For me, Desolation Row & West LA are the winners here.

How do I go about downloading these shows? I can get them a song at a time, but there must be a way I can do the whole show at once. Basically, where do I 'Click' to download? thanks for the help.

I was at this show and had a nice aud for the longest time (don't know where it is now...), but never heard this soundboard before. Really brings it back -- wish I'd gotten to it before Bob slammed the dor shut on the DLs.

Both these shows were great -- some nice stuff in 86 before Jer's collapse. I think you have to go to 89-90 for the next (last?) great Dead period.

Not to make anyone feel old, but this is the show the dead played on the day I was born, and I have to say it is one of my favorites. It's almost like they knew it was a momentous occasion (there is a some sarcasm in there in case you didn't notice). The quality of the recording is first rate. Every bit of the performance comes through clear as a bell, and the vocals sound like I've got the whole gang in my living room. A top notch show, don't pass it by.

This estimated is one of the best i have ever heard (other than the poor segue into eyes). The estimted is worth the price of the download alone. listen to it with headphones at high volume.

Curious how some people are looking for one thing or another and don't seem to care for what I believe some ALL TIME BESTS. Good action in early 2nd set, but..... FANTASTIC POST DRUMS. Everything's great till the finish line. The space is nice into an UNBELIEVABLE WHEEL, CHINA DOLL. You know you've heard a million Throwin' Stones, but Jerry's lead at the end is FENOMENAL. The rest is laughing at Bob outdoing himself on Lovelight and another ho hum Quinn.

GREAT QUALITY SOUNDBOARD TO BOOT

I am now jumping on this off the master aud. recording primarily for the sweet Bobby fanfare->1 : a showy outward display -during Estimated Prophet. A moment I often turn friends onto that always can put the hair up on the back of my neck (as does the Jerry fanfare during Fire on the Mountain Omni 3.27.89<--burn that now) And this has got to be one of the fastest Eyes of the World during this era (and almost any era) The rest of the show is straight ahead mid-eighties with just a touch more lucidity than average.
The soundboard of this show was one of my first very hot sounding tapes; I want one of each for this Estimated alone.

For those who love The Wheel from Long Beach 1981 and are looking for other versions with grace. I've finally found what could be the 2nd best Wheel.The New-Age jam after drums is serene. Estimated Prophet opened new doors today. I along with the Red Rocks 85 version this one has bobby raving all the way. Bob has an accent and style that sounds influenced by pop music of 1986..In a good way. Just thought i'd mention this Wheel. 5 for this version also must mention that Throwin Stones/Lovelight sandwhich is one of the best i've ever heard and most tantalizing. The sound quality is excellent.

-=( yes the 80's has good shows too )=-

Once again the boys come out on fire for a barn burning second set. The Hell in a bucket starts out well and becomes great (even when Bob is getting goofy with the delay)....then after a well played Sugaree.....we have a perfect Estimated (once again ..even with Bob on delay) at about 5:45 Estimated has a gradual build into a PERFECT "Eyes of the World" ....I'm not a fast eyes kinda guy usually....but here Jerry's voice sounds strong and the ivories are UNBELIEVABLE....

now I'm into Drums .... we'll see how this one ends up :-)

oh archive .... you are my best friend....ever

As with any show between 1983 and 1986 there are strengths and weaknesses in the performances of the Dead. There are ample vocal mistakes and yes occasionally arrangements are butchered but on the other hand there were phenomenal jams during these years. In my opinion 83 ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 86 were great years for GarciaÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs guitar tone. I think JerryÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs sound changed post-coma, not in a bad way, just different. The Estimated is great. If you dislike Weir going off avoid it but for those who enjoy heavy effects during Estimated this is for you. The sound quality alone is worth 5 stars.

Sound quality is excellant! Worth the DL!

SLOW LAZY AVERAGE 1ST SET????????where?????great west la..best desolAtion row ever..........great let it grow finish..then the drugs kick in.......estimated into a superfast supercharged eyes,,my new favorite...jerrys voice only off once in a great china doll..and bobby wailing on throwing stones..RECORD THIS SHOW NOW...............great quality sound as well..........

I had heard several live Dead shows back in the early 80's but nothing like this one...I remember getting this from a place in New Hope PA, called the Now and Then Shop...a hippy shop that had een around since the 60's...my friends and I had spent the day in New Hope (BOUGHT) this cassete for 8.95 through it in my bag til we got home.....we ended up tripping while we were hanging out at the river....Long story short, I put this in the walkman ( still tripping nuts) and played it over and over til the batteries died...been collecting ever since that day in 1987

As far as the performance....the first set is average, but the 2nd set is in my top 10...just a feeling of electricity permeates the whole set....Hell In a Bucket, killer....excellent Sugaree...BEST EVER (IMHO) Estimated...Nice Eyes with a Great transition into a very theme heavy drumz...You can hear Jerry urge Mickey to start the beat up again, and then Jerry jumps in and plays along with the drummers......EXCELLENT
Walt Ferguson

VA Beach

An average mid-'80s show marred by the tendency of Jerry and the drummers to drop the beat (e.g., beginning of "Let It Grow"). The much-ballyhooed "Estimated" suffers from a flubbed return to the verse out of Jerry's solo. Healy does good work with Bobby's catharsis in the coda, however. Ensuing jam is decent but unspectacular.

All in All just an average 86 show. Except that estimated, WOW if this one does'nt ring thru your head.........