Faster than usual tempo with just a brilliant Jerry bridge jam and no missed lyrics make this one a not-to-be-missed version.

Not sure why everyone ignores '77 versions, but you're missing out if you haven't heard this one. Power packed Jerry-led fury.

In the band's worst year they somehow came up with a really short but spot-on SJ that emerges nicely out of space. Ignore the date-check out the tune.

Seek out the SBD (unknown lineage) then bask in what's possibly the best-sung, most heartfelt & lovely "Roses" ever.

It's criminal that this hasn't made the list yet. Like super-smooth '77 versions? You MUST hear this.

Of all the shows released on 30 Trips this is the one I was most excited about due to the 2d set which is as good as any from any era they ever did, capped off by this unbelievable Dew. I'd already voted for it so I can't again but hearing it now in its best possible recording I urge any and all Dew freaks to beg or borrow a copy (as I did) and listen again. I am more convinced than ever now that it is simply the best Dew ever, and that includes the wonderful Barton of 77 and MSG '87.

Welcome FamPham...glad you're past lurking stage & that you checked out this combo. I too am lucky enough to have a kind friend burning the 30 Trips for me (just wasn't doable financially & I wish they'd made the shows available individually but I can't complain about the selection. While my ultimate wish would have been for 10/29/77 this April show is so good & finally released with quality sound that it's like discovering it for the first time! I look fwd to checking out your comments & recommendations.

Just gaga over this one. Candidate for all time best jam into the "wind in the willows" verse. Transition jam is unlike any I've heard--not necessarily smoothest (this ain't the mind meld of 5/8/77) but funky good and oddly endearing...most likely because it's still one of the earliest combo versions they ever did and they're still finding new paths to "Fire", but this version--especially now that it can be heard in a clean SBD after the 30 Trips release--deserves to be ranked among the very best of '77 and really, any era.

Just exactly perfect in all possible ways with the bonus of having a slightly peppier tempo than most other stellar versions from this year. This one, however, really stands out and the main instrumental jam section is a marvel, most especially with Keith and Jerry's contributions. Might be my favorite all time.

There's a CM cleaned up SBD version of this show available and I went right to this Dark Star once I found it. Gorgeous opening salvo that glides along a jazzy free flowing river for about the first 10-12 minutes before the verse, then some contemplative, mildly dark but never dissonant space intrudes--nothing to edit out as I would so many otherwise excellent '72-'74 versions (I'm looking at you in particular 11/11/73), and then there's a mind-meld tighten up/feelin' groovy/whatever you want to name it jam that is just the Dead at their finest. I don't mind necessarily that they never sing verse 2, but I take half a point off for that fact that this doesn't really go into Birdsong...instead there's a VERY pregnant pause and you can even hear the boys talking about what to do next ("Wharf Rat" is clearly nominated by someone, not sure who), and then we get the aforementioned Bird Song, which is a nice treat to be sure, but don't expect much out of it. The tune is still in its live version infancy and it's played at a too-fast clip, not especially good vocals by Jerry (compare it to any version he sings in '72 or '73) and the jams in between verses don't amount to much in comparison to those other years either. But as for the Dark Star itself, this is a prime "Best of '71" candidate--not to the level of 10/31, mind you, but very VERY good and upvote worthy.)