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This is one concert that the Dick’s Pick series could have released but didn’t.  Listen to it now before they charge you for it, it is available free on the Internet Archive.   This is part of the great spring tour which produced so many memorable Scarlet Begonia –> Fire On the Mountain.  He it appears in the unusual position as the first set closer.  Keith Godchaux was playing the Hammond B-3 organ for much of the concert that night which contributes to the unique sound of this concert.  Row Jimmy in the first set was a stellar performance.  Jerry and Donna’s voices are tightly intertwined, Keith is adding just the right minimalists organ and Phil sounds great playing notes so low they don’t sound possible on an electric bass.  Jerry and Bob are both on slide guitar and Jerry’s heartbreakingly beautiful sole is a gift. Twelve minutes and 24 seconds of intimacy.  The whole concert is well miked and the bass performance of the recordings are excellent.  The second set starts with Estimated Prophet and the sequence:

The Music Never Stopped –> Help On The Way –> Slipknot –> Franklin’s Tower

is on fire (so to speak).  The Dark Star was shinning bright on this night. wOw.

Springfield Civic Center Arena: 1977-04-23

• 01 13:58 Sugaree Listen
• 02 06:36 Cassidy Listen
• 03 10:03 Loser Listen
• 04 06:31 New Minglewood Blues Listen
• 05 07:59 Ramble On Rose Listen
• 06 06:34 Me And My Uncle Listen
• 07 12:24 Row Jimmy Listen
• 08 08:03 It’s All Over Now Listen
• 09 07:08 Scarlet Begonias -> Listen
• 10 11:01 Fire On The Mountain Listen
• 11 01:38 Tuning/Take A Step Back Listen
• 12 08:30 Estimated Prophet Listen
• 13 10:02 Bertha Listen
• 14 08:11 The Music Never Stopped Listen
• 15 05:38 Help On The Way -> Listen
• 16 08:24 Slipknot! -> Listen
• 17 10:33 Franklin’s Tower -> Listen
• 18 07:06 Around And Around -> Listen
• 19 08:50 Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad -> Listen
• 20 12:59 Not Fade Away Listen
• 21 04:51 One More Saturday Night Listen
• Concert Length: 02:16:51

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Among Deadheads 1978 and (April, 1978) is a much loved period for the Grateful Dead.  The band is tight and there are a plethora of quality sound  board recordings. This Monday night concert was the first of a two night stand at the Fox.  Donna and Bob are in good voice (Jerry less so). The first set opens with a strange sound check of Salt Lake City and ends with a sweet version of The Music Never Stopped.  Along the way Jerry delivers the goods with unbelievable guitar work on It’s All Over Now, Peggy-O, El Paso and Row Jimmy.  The core of the second set if a twelve minute version of controversial ‘disco’ version of Dancin’ In the Street. This is, in general, not my favorite Grateful Dead song from this period because, (0) the original Motown Pigpen version is much loved, and (1) the band rarely stays in full vocal tune throughout the new version (Donna & Jerry I am talking about you). On this night everything jells, the vocals and instrumentation are spot on and the jam at the end is quite good.  Franklin’s Tower misses the mark (and has an audience patch to boot) but the closer is awesome:

Black Peter –> Around & Around –> U.S. Blues

Fox Theater: 1978-04-10

• 01 03:02 Salt Lake City Listen
• 02 01:13 Tuning Listen
• 03 05:08 Promised Land Listen
• 04 07:08 Brown Eyed Women Listen
• 05 08:34 It’s All Over Now Listen
• 06 10:24 Peggy-O Listen
• 07 06:53 Cassidy Listen
• 08 04:48 Dire Wolf Listen
• 09 06:59 El Paso Listen
• 10 10:34 Row Jimmy Listen
• 11 07:40 Passenger Listen
• 12 08:18 Candyman Listen
• 13 09:32 The Music Never Stopped Listen
• 14 02:27 Tuning Listen
• 15 06:54 Jack Straw Listen
• 16 07:39 Ship Of Fools Listen
• 17 12:03 Dancing In The Street -> Listen
• 18 15:31 Drums -> Listen
• 19 16:26 Franklin’s Tower -> Listen
• 20 11:50 Black Peter -> Listen
• 21 09:30 Around And Around Listen
• 22 05:47 U.S. Blues Listen
• Concert Length: 02:24:04