“It is said that, if you lined up all those who have ever been to a Grateful Dead concert head-to-toe, the line would stretch around the moon, and about halfway back. And nobody would complain!”
Grateful Dead
Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA
February 17, 1979
SBD > Master Reel > ? > Dat > CD
All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller
“Discs were labeled Master Reel, but I strongly doubt it”
(Thanks to Paul Scotton for the discs)
Keith’s & Donna’s final show.
Disc 1 – Set 1:
- Greatest Story Ever Told
- Don’t Ease Me In
- Mama Tried >
- Mexicali Blues
- Friend Of The Devil
- Passenger
- High Time
- Looks Like Rain
- Jack-A-Roe
- Lazy Lightnin’ >
- Supplication
Disc 2 – Set 2:
- Might As Well
- I Need A Miracle >
- Bertha >
- Good Lovin’
- From The Heart Of Me
- Big Railroad Blues
Disc 3 – Set 2 cont’d.:
- Terrapin Station >
- Playing In The Band >
- Drums >
- Space >
- The Wheel >
- Shakedown Street >
- Playing In The Band >
- Sugar Magnolia
Encore: - One More Saturday Night
Reviews from this recording:
REVIEW: I can still see the look on Donna’s face!
I didn’t know it at the time, until later before Brent’s first show that this was their last as I hand held my
microphones over my head Donna was clearly checking me out as I recorded while she was singing “From the
Heart of Me”,(not her best performance; kind of sad in retrospect), but like others, since a board came out I
recorded over it. This is an early example of Garcia starting to really stretch out and improvise on the end of
“Terrapin Station”, as well as a great “Lazy Lightin'”->”Supplication” amongst other things, as the other folks
have said! This was a Cancer Research benefit called the “Rock for Life” with Jane Fonda and Tom Haydn
introducing the band and one of her lesser known pictures playing beforehand “Fun with Dick & Jane”.
REVIEW: well needed upgrade
this show is the stuff of legends
REVIEW: gratest!
greatest story ever told absolutely erupts
REVIEW: Wow
I had no idea it was going to be the last time Keith and Donna were leaving the band. I was heart broken, grew
up with them and miss them now. I see Donna once in awhile but those were the great shows. Brent added a
new sound but…………………heh. First love.
REVIEW: A little ligtning from 79
Just listen to that Lazy Lightning > Supplication; Jerry just unleashed… well, lightning. Great high energy
second set too.
REVIEW: ‘breakouts’ in keith/donna’s last show
1st post 74 greatest story. return of high time (spring ’77?) big rr blues, the wheel time for Keith to go. He was
GREAT from 71 thru 74. still good thru spring ’77 when he still used different tibre’s, ‘acoustic piano, moog 3
for estimated, passenger, ocassional Loser(cornell77), Brokedown(st paul 77) Mississippi(boston 77, killer
misszipi) by 78 his percussive acompanyment with occasional flourishes were a negative distraction. Brent
added a lot to the band his early funky sounds,his B-3 though I too never liked his ‘standard’ keyboard sound. I
also disliked some of the arrangement changes. Late 78,early 79 stella Blue had great Garcia outro guitar that
lasted 3 min+ where stella frequently exceeded 11 minutes same for Poor (Black) Peter. with Brent the outro
jams were normally shorter with a few notable exceptions
Reviews from other recordings:
REVIEW: bread crumb
I had a tape of this show that, only 18 months after the show, sounded like it was 20 generations from the
master. It was so distorted that it was not labeled a SBD, even though I was, and am, pretty sure it was. At the
time I got the tape, Brent was still brand new and the jury was still out. Donna haters stand down. I’ve always
thought there was a melancholy tone to this show although the set lists and playing are really good – perhaps
that’s my bias. It is certainly the end of an incredibly creative era. My favorite part of this show is when Donna
flubs the lyrics in “From the Heart of Me” and after the song is over someone, Jerry perhaps, says, “We all do
it.” That moment of genuineness always struck me as the essence of what made the band great.
REVIEW: 2-17-79
“Rock for Life” benefit. noted on calendars as K&D’s last show. Terrific show from the first note, still holds up
great. Interesting songlist and great performance. One of the best first sets, and the second is great too.
REVIEW: Supplication cross-rhythms, and…
I’ll keep looking, but I have yet to find a Supplication as inventive as this one. What a weave! Garcia is in top
form for the entire concert, lots of thought-out phrasing. Check out Greatest Story e.g.
REVIEW: Wopper
This is a very hot show with Jerry coming out swinging – lazy lightning>supp may be one of the best ever and
other cool little surprises – Listen up!
REVIEW: my Birthday show
The Day I was born the Dead blessed us with this show that is absolutely rocking. Being Keith and Donna last
show, they went off in ways ive never heard on tape before. i give it a 10 out of 10 rating. I was lucky enough to
see the Dead three times before jerry left us and they have been my musical inspiration growing up. I love what
this site is doing, and i thank the people keeping the music lossless and available for my children to listen to, as i
am expecting my first child in just a few weeks A MUST HEAR !
You get the picture…
“Today’s Dead Tomorrow”, Upcoming Gig Events
As always, verify with the venue…
Kettle Of Fish:
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Tues., Feb. 18th, 9:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Wed., Feb. 19th, 7:00 p.m.
5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, 346-5443
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Thurs., Feb. 20th, 6:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
The Blue Rooster, Fri., Feb. 21st, 6:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse, Sun., Feb. 23rd, 4:30 p.m.
19 East Rd., Sarasota, 312-5969
Schmitz Brothers Band:
Linger Lodge, Sat., Feb. 22nd, 7:00 p.m.
7205 85th St. Ct. East, Bradenton, 755-2757
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Sun., Feb. 23rd, 2:00 p.m.
5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, 346-5443
Ship Of Fools:
Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse, Sat., Feb. 22nd, 7:00 p.m.
19 East Rd., Sarasota, 312-5969
The Blue Rooster:
Tues., Feb. 18th, Suitcase Full Of Blues, 8:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 19th, Al Fuller Blues Jam, 8:00 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 20th, Bryan Lee “Braille Blues Daddy”, 8:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 21st, Kettle Of Fish, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22nd, Doug Demming & The Jewel Tones, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23rd, Truality gospel brunch, 11:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe: (new times! Tues., Wed, Thurs., 6 p.m.; Mon, Wed., Sat., 7:00 p.m.)
Mon., Feb. 17th, Open Mic with Rick Alvis, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 18th, North Trail Band, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 19th, Bill Hartmann, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 20th, Don Maitland, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 21st, Lisa Rott & Friends, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22nd, Cahoots, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23rd, MTJP’s call for time.
The OPC is now open Sundays with food and drink specials, 12:00 – 7:00 p.m., with music afternoons.
987 South Packinghouse Road, Sarasota, 371-9358
Sarasota Folk Club:
This month’s Fogartyville concert is Mon., Feb. 24th, Patchouli, with Ishmael Katz opening
Open mic 7:00 p.m., concert at 8:30.
Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota, 894-6469
For all information regarding the Sarasota Folk Club, go to their website: http://www.sarasotafolk.org/