“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
The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
September 23, 1987
SBD > Cassette Master (TDK SA-X90)
All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller
Disc 1 – Set 1:
- Tuning
- Feel Like A Stranger >
- Franklin’s Tower
- Walkin’ Blues
- Friend Of The Devil
- Tons Of Steel >
- Desolation Row
- Big Railroad Blues >
- The Music Never Stopped
Disc 2 – Set 2:
- Bertha >
- Cumberland Blues
- Playing In The Band >
- Uncle John’s Band >
- Playing In The Band Jam >
- Drums >
Disc 3 – Set 2 cont’d.:
- Space >
- I Need A Miracle >
- Dear Mr. Fantasy >
- Around And Around >
- Good Lovin’ >
- La Bamba >
- Good Lovin’
Encore:
- Encore Break
- U.S. Blues
The only review from this recording:
REVIEW: fast show, good sound
sad about the 1st song, smokin show, i was at it
Reviews from other recordings:
REVIEW: –
Excellent show, and the La Bamba is an extra special treat. Never heard Garcia do mariachi before. He’s a
natural!
REVIEW: 9.23.87
The Healy mix is great except for the technical difficulties during Stranger. Set 1 is weak on lryics, but Jerry’s
solos make up for it. Big RR and Music are typical: start off weak, mess up the words, then finish strong after
great guitar work. Set 2 is powerful, and the La Bamba is indeed sweet. Fun to hear Jerry sing the spanish lyrics.
REVIEW: Underrated show from Underrated year
Bobby is on fire this show, guitar nice in the mix and super high energy vocals – -check out that Desolation
Row, Good Lovin’ and several others if you like high energy Weir as I do. The whole band is kicking ass the
2nd set — great stuff…a four star rating might be a little low; very nice mix vast majority of show.
REVIEW: My First Show
This was my first of about 30 shows at age 17 after 4 years of my friends and their older siblings talking up the
band and playing tapes for me, and looking back in my opinion is the second best show I ever saw after the fall
’89 Bobby’s birthday show at the Meadowlands show where they played Dark Star for the first time as the
Grateful Dead since that Berkley encore (I know they played it at Hampton earlier as the California All-Stars or
whatever they called themselves to get around the Hampton ban on the GD). Jerry was on fire back from his
health issues, Bobby was in his 80’s rock star front man prime for his tines, and I think Brent (whom I think was
amazing despite what some say) was at his peak – loved Tons of Steel and Dear Mr. Fantasy. After hearing
Dylan all my life from my father, I was blown away by their version of Desolation Row. To this day, the Dylan
songs with Bobby singing are high on my list because I grew up with Dylan, love what Bobby put into the
perfomance, and you get to hear hear Jerry soloing over the top througout. I had heard tapes of the Good
Lovin=>La Bambas from each of the earlier northeast stops on that fall tour and thought it was kind of cheesy
given the current pop buzz about the Ritchey Valens movie that was out at the time. Once they started with
Good Lovin the anticipation for La Bamba started to build in the crowd and I was all in. I will never forget
seeing Jerry absolutely putting his entire being into busting out those lyrics in Spanish and the reaction from the
crowd. Even after listening to dozens of tapes and having dozens of people explain what the Dead were about, it
was not until the solo during La Bamba that I understood that the GD were the ultimate all-American rock band
that blended jazz, rock, country, folk, and oldies together like nothing I could have ever imagined. The U.S.
Blues encore was really rocking and they have been my favorite band ever since.
REVIEW: one of THOSE nights!
It rained inside the Spectrum this night. No, really, it was so hot in there, it was dripping condensation inside,
everything was wet. People were sliding around the concourse, it was wonderful mayhem. The second set is just
beautiful. Well played and high energy throughout. The static with Bob’s mic only lasts the first minute, and
other than that, the first set is good. The Big RxR>Music at the end is sweet, but get this for set 2.
Bertha>Cumberland>Playin>UJB is fantastic!! i can still remember doing some kind of squaredance during
Cumberland, and the UJB is a top 5 performance. By the time the Good Lovin>La Bamba rolled through I was
spent! I remember everyone had steam coming off them as we headed out into the real world once more…
REVIEW: Best I Can Remember
Looking back nearly 18 years later, this show still gives me goosebumps. The energy level from the second set
was something that I cannot express in writing. Jerry was moving and dancing for most of the show and broke
into a big grin during La Bamba. The recording is a great account from this special night and we should all be
thankful of it’s existence. I also remember the big group circle dance during Cumberland Blues.
REVIEW: Last Ones
Last Tons of Steel and Last La Bamba
REVIEW: my favorite show
I wish they’d play Big Railroad Blues like that every time!
REVIEW: My first Dead show
I was 16, part of the In The Dark crowd. I don’t remember a ton, and we had terrible seats, behind the stage, but I
was blown away. Mr. Fantasy stuck with me, as did the Good Lovin’/ La Bamba. A great introduction.
This source has a fixed Walkin’ Blues
“Today’s Dead Tomorrow”, Upcoming Gig Events
As always, verify with the venue…
Kettle Of Fish:
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Wed., Sept. 25th, 7:00 p.m.
5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarthasota, 346-5443
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Thurs., Sept. 26th, 6:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
Cortez Kitchen, Fri., Sept. 27th, 6:00 p.m.
Cortez Fishing Village, 198th Street, Cortez, 798-9404
Schmitz Brothers Band:
Snook Haven, Sun., Sept. 29th, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
5000 East Venice Ave., Venice, 485-7221
Ship Of Fools:
Mattison’s City Grille, Fri., Sept. 27th, 8:00 – 11:45 p.m.
1 North Lemon Ave Sarasota, 330-0440
Stottlelmyer’s Smokehouse, Sun., Sept. 29th, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.,
19 East Rd., Sarasota, 312-5969
The Blue Rooster:
Tues., Sept. 24th, Lauren Mitchell with Bill Buchman, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 25h, Al Fuller Blues Jam, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 26th, Dean Johanesen with The 24 Hour Men, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 27th, Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 28th, Sugar And Spice Review, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 29h, Truality gospel brunch, Noon to 2:00 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., Sept. 23rd, Open Mic with Rick Alvis, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 24th, John Howard, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 25th, Greg Poulos, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 26th, Stumble Creek, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 27th, The Missing Links, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 28 th, Cahoots, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
987 South Packinghouse Road, Sarasota, 371-9358
Sarasota Folk Club:
This month’s Fogartyville concert is Mon., Sept. 30th, Dean Johanesen and The 24 Hour Men
Open mic at 7:15 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/