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Feel Like A Stranger-> Franklin's Tower, Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Mama Tried-> Big River, Far From Me, Stagger Lee, Desolation Row, Don't Ease Me In Shakedown Street, Samson & Delilah, Iko Iko*-> Day-O*, Women Are Smarter*-> Drums-> Jam-> Knockin' On Heaven's Door*-> Good Lovin'*, E: Johnny B. Goode*

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Reviewer: ms42466 - - October 23, 2012
Subject: best show of my life 4.3.86.-89!
echo all other positive comments,
the BASS 'BLAST" into 1st of iko was amazing!!!!
worshiped the speakers outside in the hall ways , Danced my ass off with a beautifugirl to all of 1sthalf of 2nd set, acid was clean, delighlah was her name im sure! would meet scarlet at roanoke 87!
would LOVE to hear a matrix or soundboard as the only way to better this "post expirience"
Play this for folks who never made it to a show to show the "LIghtningbolt strike" of the skull and bolt image, they "get it" ! ms42466@

Reviewer: dupree413 - - July 6, 2012
Subject: Bringing it all Back Home
This show (and the two Roanoke shows that followed) were probably the best not only of '87 ( I think New Year's is overrated, but that is just me) but of '88. Certainly top 5 of the post- summer '86 GD.

I respect everyone's opinion, but regarding "Desolation Row", I submit the following: Hind sight reveals that Weir played 3 other Dylan tunes far more regularly (Masterpiece/Q.Jane/Mobile w Memphis Blues). Also, they seemed to gel more with Weir than perhaps even some of his own.

Anyway, smoking Stranger - but the big surpise was the jumpin' set 2. Joined by the Nevilles and cooking with Iko, Women, and Day-o. Heaven's Door is the gem. Perhaps only "Comes a Time" evokes more emotion out of the Jerry Ballads.

I remember this show as being my favorite of the year.

God Bless and enjoy.4 1/2 stars overall 5 stars for this year.

Reviewer: Sedula - - January 22, 2010
Subject: Desolation Row was always bad!!
Someone below wrote: "There's this humanizing element that the boys hit with "Desolation" that always makes it listenable."

I always found the opposite to be true. The song went on forever and never went anywhere. In addition, for some reason Bobby could remember the whole 10 or so verses to this song, but would forget the words to many tunes that he wrote. I liked a lot of the Dylan covers, but Desolation Row was by far THE WORST (in my opinion).

Reviewer: psufan - - January 21, 2010
Subject: great show
My first GD show and what a show. Still listening to it regularly today.

Reviewer: heep - - January 16, 2010
Subject: Epic show
This was one of the best shows of the decade. The boys played with amazing energy. I got this on tape in 1988 from a guy in Pittsburgh (Fritz at CMU) who had a third generation soundboard. Amazing quality. Listened to this CONSTANTLY. I had a couple friends who went to this show. A bunch of us got back to Philly on July 5th from Foxboro and we all had tickets for the Philly show a few days later. Two of my friends had tickets for Pittsburgh. Immediately after pulling into my buddy's (Mike's) driveway, he and another guy (Jim) got into Mike's car and left for Pittsburgh. I could have gone but didn't have the guts to go all the way to Pittsburgh without a ticket. When my buddies got back they reported on this sick show and told me scalpers were selling tickets for $5. Turns out hardly anybody went to this show. Roanoke was the next day, so it was way the hell out of the way for anybody who had just gone to Foxboro on the 4th and was planning on going to Roanoke on the 7th. I remember Jim sold his Philly ticket upon returning from Pittsburgh and never went to another show. He decided every show he could ever see would be a let down after what he had seen and heard in Pittsburgh.

Reviewer: John Bouffard - - February 10, 2009
Subject: Monday Monday
I believe this was a Monday night and it wasn't sold out? I remember it being an awesome show and had to leave town fast fast to get to Roanoke for the next night.

Reviewer: drifterhatesleafblowers - - May 5, 2008
Subject: Unforgettable evening
I always looked at this as Jerry's comeback party. It was during the Dylan tour but he wasn't scheduled, so there were lots of rumors that he might just show up. Well special guests did show up, the Neville Brothers who rocked out on Iko-Iko DayO and Woman Are Smarter if I remember correctly.

The Shakedown is awesome, listen for Jerry's skat singing (woahoa). And there wasn't a dry eye in the place after the Knocking on Heaven's door.

Reviewer: methylman - - November 21, 2005
Subject: How Sweet It Is
Have the Dead ever sounded better than they do right here? Guaranteed, you'll be grinning ear-to-ear when they break out Aiko Aiko with the Nevilles. Old Jer's in fine form throughout the show.

Reviewer: capn doubledose - - September 30, 2005
Subject: Is that Phil leading Day-O?
This is one for the ages and it does have some rough edges and is not as balls to the wall hot as the Branford Marsalis shows at Nassau for instance but man is this FUN TO LISTEN TO. Set II is definately a highlight and just wondering why it was a one time gig with the Neville's when they rock together?

ps for all of you Knockin on heavens door fans this is a hot one.

Reviewer: jboyaquar - - July 19, 2005
Subject: Probably should outlive the suppossed fantasy pairing of the 2 D's...
I've heard that this show has overshadowed most, if not all of the stadium shows of '87. Let's see:

1st Set: Lots of open spaces tho brisk storytelling punctuate this decent "Stranger," "Franklin's" is fine and nicely spirited, but lacks that blistering edge. "Minglewood's" a Hammond-y backbeat good time despite Bobby's less than confident, bullying vocals, and lacking explosive propulsive dimensions. WE shift directions to a me wanna be Colorado River Grand Canyonesque "Row Jimmy." Keen harmonies, pretty jams but bit sluggishly paced. A clear chirpy "Mama Tried" follows. Fiddly friskiness overrides a fine "River." "Far From ME" is mildly sloshily pleasing. I feel like a ballad...hmmm, let's see where "Stagger" will take us? Nice cuddlyness. There's this humanizing element that the boys hit with "Desolation" that always makes it listenable. This version's about average. "Ease" is basic stuff.

2nd Set: Ahhhh... How I adore these momentws before a "Shakedown" and Jerry's counting the notes off to a rimming Billy...Like my good pal Colt Cabana, 'good times, great memories.' A spirited "Samson" extends the consistently upbeat moods. "We're going to bring out a few guest artists...we don't know which ones we invited" Jerry interrupts Bobby as he introduces them by name, and the crowd overwhelmingly cares more..."We ran into some of our friends the Neville Borthers, and managed to convince them to sit in with us..." Now is the ultimate time for an "Iko." Jerry's having a great time belting this version out. Yes, noone wants the soft butt bumpin' to end so we transition to a modest tho novelty-enjoyably "Day-O." A one-two bass and bassoon drum brings us back to Dead-lite samba, "Man Smart." This is just a great segue and blissfully extending what I'm sure was totally unexpected. The song finishes strongly, and we head into a what I'm assuming to be a collective Drum experience. Ehhh, it's just kind of run-of-the-mill but I'm 'with' the show now.. so it's ok. Ahhh, this is a gorgeous voiced, heavy "Knockin," a rarity admist this time. At first the intro is ephmeral, but it soon develops into the right summation, "Good Lovin." However, the energy's beginning to sag...no blockbuster here.
However, the "Johnny's" a keeper... Solid, intense drumming, and gots to dig people taking their turn.

A memorable evening!

Reviewer: jamesirc - - June 23, 2005
Subject: High Energy
2nd set is awsome

Reviewer: mmw365 - - June 15, 2005
Subject: pittsburgh 87
This was the first bootleg I ever had. My older cousin had given it to me. The tape looked as if it had gone to hell and back. I went home and played it in my fathers new tapedeck, I was so scared that the tape would get jammed.The tape played and what a show. That momment has left me forever Grateful. Thanks JP STITT and MIKE L.

Reviewer: stillmissinbrent - - February 25, 2005
Subject: A band beyond description
I got in my car and headed west out of Rochester NY by myself knowing I would meet new friends along the way, what I did not know is that I would see the most defining Dead Show of my 10+ year tenure.

Offering it up early with Stranger/Franklins Tower seemed too good but personally I had never seen a Stagger Lee until that show and had soft spot for that song because an old roomate had turned me on years prior. The "heavy" tunes just kept comeing that night Shakedown, The Nevilles, Johnny B. Good amazing!

I threw disc in the parking lot long into the late hours and told 2 heads from Buffalo to just crash in the liftback of my car and I would give them a ride back home in the morning. There were business people in suits and skirts coming into the lot as security was moving the heads out, it was an this amazing culture shock as both factions passed by each other in the early morning light but I remember getting and giving a few smiles along the way.

... "were they ever here at all?"

Reviewer: y2j - - December 30, 2004
Subject: The Igloo was spinning
The second set from this show is pure insanity. The Shakedown opener is one of my all time favorites. After a respectable Samson, the Neville Brothers joined in and the resulting music practically blasted the roof from the Igloo.
This recording is interesting in it's ability to capture the quality of the music and the energy of the crowd.

Reviewer: burlwood - - October 7, 2004
Subject: Still best show Iv ever seen .
Home town Greatful Dead.Took many friends that never saw the Dead before and what a show to turn them on too start to finish shit hot Grateful Dead ! My friends had no idea what hit them never forget my one friends face "I had no idea" He was alot older than us and a huge Hendrix fan I used to tell him you got to see Jerry Id play him bootlegs but as you know you just have to be there .It was so humid inside that it was raining and the crowd was into it (Shakedown St "just got to poke around") as anyone from Phili knows PA smokes for late 80s indoor Greatful Dead . THIS IS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT !!!

Reviewer: mighty quinn - - October 1, 2004
Subject: the first ones free.
I was taken to this show as a birthday present by my sister who was a confermed deadhead I was not, at least untill this show. this would be the first of over a hundred still to this day this show is one of the best preformaces I had the privlage to see or hear. the sound is great

Reviewer: pyroguyperson - - August 30, 2004
Subject: sorry, innocent question though
I take it Dylan didn't play this show?

Reviewer: AlaskaColdRain - - July 19, 2004
Subject: Shakedown for the Ages
Hot hot night, literally, hot & humid, full moon, Jerry jumping up and down, Nevilles, one of the ultimate Shakedowns, a gorgeous Knockin' out of a freak-out space, wasn't even a sell out...some people definately missed out! I've been waiting for this one to surface here. Thanks!

Reviewer: benwirth - - July 18, 2004
Subject: Great Show
Fantastic show here, the spotlight being the Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Don't fear the unknown AUD; this is an Oade Brothers recording. The setup was Schoeps CMC 44's -> m118 -> Sony PCM-F1 (Oade mod) -> DAT. There may be some other lineages here, but I know that much is correct. Check this show out, as good as late 80's Dead gets.

Reviewer: rootboyslim - - July 13, 2004
Subject: Neville Brothers Opening
What a great show. So was the Roanoke, Va. shows which followed on the 7th and 8th. I hope that we can also get these show's added, hint hint...lol

Notes

unknown AUD> ?> CDR> EAC> cdwav> shn; via Tony Gardner with thanks to Willy Keats