| PRODUCT DETAILS | | The Closing of Winterland |  | |
The Closing of Winterland
This 4 CD set contains the entire Grateful Dead performance from the Closing of Winterland on 12/31/78, mixed from the 24-track analog master tapes, and includes a 24-page booklet containing photos and essays.
Manufacturer: Grateful Dead / Wea
Price Range: $19.83 - $31.98
 The Closing of Winterland
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| User Reviews |  | I was at this concert, but I NEVER knew it was on CD
rating: 1
I was at this concert, but I NEVER knew it was on CD and it was
a fabulous show !
With Quicksilver Messenger Service to boot.
Forget The Blues Brothers. Their performance is a throwaway and
even tho the entire Dead had the flu, it was still something
to see and experience after having gone to Winterland, pretty much
once week if not more than that for about 8 years.
I hope you're sittin down, because the regular price at Winterland for this period was $4.50-$5.00
Special shows like The Who were a whopping $20, as was The Last Waltz,
I think $35, maybe less.
I saw everyone who was anyone from 1970 to the closing, including "The Last Waltz", Peter Frampton, when "Frampton Comes Alive" was recorded, as well as The Who when they recorded their live album, Tommy Bolin, Jo Jo Gunne, Dave Mason, (a half million times) Johnny Winter (35 times), Traffic, Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton, Santana (a half million times), Montrose with Sammy Hagar, 1st album, Journey, Lynard Skynard for the 1st LP, with 3 guitarists and the entire southern rock thing
I saw The Dead 45 times at Winterland, including the show they recorded with their "Wall of Sound" speaker/amplifier setup for the "Steal Your Face" movie, which was actually the very 1st time I PAID to see the Dead. I had seen them for free in Golden Gate Park 8 times previous.
I hope you take this review and post it !
GET THIS CD SET !
David Singer
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The one I keep coming back to....
rating: 5
DO NOT HESITATE-I've acquired many dead shows through various means and this is the one I keep coming back to. It has everything, including some sit-ins that really compliment the sound (beginning on "I Need a Miracle" you hear the harmonica infused) along with John Cippolina from Quicksilver on the 20 minute marathon "Not Fade Away". This show has it all, please do not wait, I say this for your own good, it is worth twice what you can get it for. 4 cds for 20 bucks, that's 5 bucks a disc. You deserve it!
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Must Have
rating: 5
A classic album; one of my favorites. For any Dead fan or anyone wanting to give live Dead shows a shot, a fantastic choice. HIGHly recommended.
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This may be their greatest
rating: 5
I used to sit and listen to these guys jamming in the gym at College of Marin on lazy afternoons back in 1964. I saw them at the Filmore in SF in 1966. After that, only once in the early 80s at an outdoor concert in Oregon. They have never been bad as far as I'm concerned, but they have definitely improved with time, despite the occasional slumps. However, whether thee got better or not is beside the point; the music itself got phenomenally better. I listened to this particular concert live on the radio from a funky cabin in Monte Rio, California, with friends, a jug of wine, and something else, so maybe it just brings back pleasant memories. Nonetheless, back when the Dead came out with "Terrapin Station" in 1977, I was blown away, and their music (the songs) just kept getting better until the mid-1980s with "In the Dark" and "Go to Heaven." All this to say that, of all the concerts and live CDs I've heard by the Dead over the years, this one stands out to me as representing their best years. Incidentally, this was also a stand-out period for The Jerry Garcia Band, whose "Cats under the Stars" features the voices of Donna Godchaux and Maria Muldaur, as well as a number of songs that became standard tunes for later Dead shows. In addition to "The Arista Years," I recommend this as one of the best introductions to the best period of Grateful Dead music.
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Actually, 3 and 1/2 stars
rating: 3
The Dead were not at their best in 1978. Inner problems and drug abuse were really affecting the band skills. Anyway, they were such an impressive live ensemble that they could sound really good even on bad nights. Not that this was a bad night, but neither an outstanding one. Anyway, there are really nice moments, and most of them have to do with the (at least for me) undoubtfully most talented member of the band, Mr.Garcia. His solos are always sprinkled with beauty. He always plays nice, and he always knows what NOT to play. Furthermore, his compositions are usually the real gems of the band repertoire. Even though drugs were affecting his life more than before and his voice was a kind of ragged, Jerry was still that leader that didn't want to lead but led anyway.
More of historical interest, this release is not recommended for newcomers. Anyway, it offers really beautiful moments such as "Terrapin Station", "Playing In The Band", "Ramble On Rose" and "Stagger Lee". This Winterland "Dark Star" is not very inspired, nor inspiring, but it is nice to hear the audience freaking out after more than 1500 days without the Dead's live tour-de-force.
Summing up: they were not the best at what they did, they were the only ones, as Graham rightly said. They are really better live releases, but this one will surely provide Dead followers with some really pleasant music.
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The Closing of Winterland
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