Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.

Sick of saying "How can X not be here" yet but C'mon! Get the digital DL series and start bumpin this up! Smooth Scarlet, killer Fire jams. Early gem!

From a year not particularly known for great Terrapin, this one proves the exception to the rule. Tight, inventive, soulful.

Bob sez: "we're gonna play one of your favorites and we certainly hope it's one of ours" b4 this sweet electric version!

As insanely good as the Wharf Rat that precedes it. How good? Almost matches 10/29/77 in intensity. Final jam section b4 SSDD will boggle your senses!

You want free-form jazz that would make Coltrane smile? It's here. You want acid-jazz that would elicit a nod, if not a smile, from Miles? You got it. You want to hear a ridiculously undeservedly low-rated (2 when I tuned in) gem from 1972 that probably got buried only because you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an awesome PITB in '72? You're a click away. I can see why Cuca came back to comment more than once...this needs to carried up the ladder, folks.

Well, the NY Times agrees with me, for whatever that's worth. Last paragraph from the review of "Long, Strange Trip": "These are quibbles, the sort of nits Deadheads pick while arguing over the band’s best performances. Senator Al Franken is on hand to enthuse about his favorite version of “Althea”: Nassau Coliseum, May 16, 1980. Right tour, wrong show, Senator: Try San Diego, July 1." Spoiler alert: He's not too far off. Nassau is probably a smidge better, but the difference, as Cosmo Kramer would say, is negligible.

Right out of the gate this amazing version turns on the psychedelic jets and sets the path for a grossly underrated but rewardingly rich Playin' for those willing to seek it out. Check out the reverb wah-wah even as Bob sings the very first line. You don't usually get this far into color sound swirl territory until after the first two verses and the meat of the jam but here they launch straight away. It's all brilliant after that because hey, it's '72, a year that was this song's coming out party and the only thing lacking is a superior recording, although the one I heard isn't bad. Keith is high in the mix as noted by others but I think this is a supremely good thing, because he was a major reason this song was so good in '72. I've kind of resigned myself to these lower ranked versions staying so but those willing to give it a chance will be very happy they did. Up it if you agree.

This version gets a cameo in the form of a clearly labeled 5-1-81 rolling cassette tape in the new "Long Strange Trip" documentary. Al Franken talks up 5/16/80 at Nassau and the unseen interviewer touts this as his favorite. They play bits of each. They're both worthy.

Great, crisp, recording from the new soundtrack. Fantastic Garcia vocals in this one, and a real confident romp through the jamming sections and the transition, which you can sense them feeling out for all its newness, and while it doesn't go the places it would in 73 and 74 it is fascinating to hear an early rendition giving hints to those epic versions to come. Well worth seeking out!