“There Is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert!”
Grateful Dead, Robertson Gym – University Of California, Santa Barbara, CA
February 27, 1977
Sony ECM-280>Sony TC-153SD ACM>R>DAT>CDR
taped by Dr. Rob Bertrando
Thanks to Raoul Duke for the disks!
Part of The Music Never Stopped Project 2002
Picked this date out, not only for the wonderful recording by Rob Bertrando(traded cassettes with him many times in the past, before downloading
became the norm…), but because it is possibly the only recording of this date available, as a reviewer says there is no soundboard in the Vault.
The vocals are a tad background, but this doesn’t detract from the concert.
Scarlet Begonias is very different, very jammy, very out there, and worth the price of admission alone!
Disk 1 – Set 1:
1. New Minglewood Blues
2. Loser
3. El Paso
4. Ramble On Rose
5. Estimated Prophet
6. Peggy-O
7. Good Lovin’
8. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
9. The Music Never Stopped
Disk 2 – Set 1 cont’d.:
1. Scarlet Begonias
Set 2:
2. Samson And Delilah
3. (fades in) // Saint Stephen >
4. Not Fade Away >
5. Dru//ms >
6. Terrapin Station >
7. Morning Dew
8. Sugar Magnolia
Encore:
9. Johnny B. Goode
REVIEW: One of those hidden gems…
I always wished this show would find its way to mass appeal via Dick’s Picks. I attribute the show’s lack
of notoriety due to poor circulation and no available soundboard (Vault, maybe??); Anyways, a terrific
show with a stellar setlist and simply incredible Terrapiin->Morning Dew combination;
REVIEW: This is a 5
While the rest of ’77 is hot so is this – the dew is off the charts. Cannot in good conscience give this a 4
it does not deserve it. This stands alone in absolute terms and relative to the rest of the year.
REVIEW: One of those hidden gems…
I always wished this show would find its way to mass appeal via Dick’s Picks. I attribute the show’s lack
of notoriety due to poor circulation and no available soundboard (Vault, maybe??); Anyways, a terrific
show with a stellar setlist and simply incredible Terrapiin->Morning Dew combination; How I wish
these were more frequent!!!
REVIEW: A+
this entire show is ON. as far as aud recording… A++
REVIEW: smokin’
Solid playing all the way through! Solid sound quality. A “5”
REVIEW: Mighty nice
A better show than the previous night, no question. It’s consistently tight throughout the night. Dew
fans, this is a good one comming out of Terrapin. An interesting aspect is that unless people had been at
the previous night’s show, the audience would never had heard Terrapin Station before. The album
wasn’t released until several months later.
REVIEW: Great show and good quality recording…
I’m loving these ’77 shows. This is a very nice recording for an audience recorded show. I wish I could
have hit some of these shows, but I was only three years old. As some of the other shows from this year,
a great Scarlett (without a FireOnTheMountain)- I love the way Phil plays on the Scarlett!
REVIEW: Good start to a good year!
2/26 has the novelty of opening with the first Terrapin, but in my opinion, this gem holds up better as a
whole show. Also, for some reason they shift back to the “old” St. Stephen arrangement, although they
went back to the “waltz time” version the next time they played it. Anyway, ’77 is packed end to end
with killers but this show holds up just fine. This is another excellent Bertrando audience recording that
brings out the full wallop of the band while not losing the subtleties and venue ambiance.
REVIEW: Welcome to ’77
Second show of the year and in many ways, one of the best. Innocently new and fresh, almost
Winterland in scope and sound. One such audience tape that is fine as any SBD….the jam into NFA
heralds what’s to come later in the spring and on, with the opening drums reverberating into Jerry’s
charming licks! A right on moment that has 76 circled all over it, with a California dreamin’
winterscape for the early second semester in ’77!
REVIEW: Great AUD
Great audience recording of a decent GD show. It deserves five stars, but it’s not A+ grade… A kind of
experimental show I think, a lot of interesting moments. Nice jamming in Scarlet Begonias
REVIEW: 2/27/77-Top 3 of “77
Having had the pleasure to attend 4 shows in 1977 and also to have listened to every show available in
the trading circles, I have no doubt this show is one of the best-despite the fact that it is an aud. Now
wvery one loves a soundboard, me included. But if you listen to this show what jumps out at ya is the
energy is amazing, due in part to the crowd. Also Jerry’s playing on this eve is over the top. Just listen
to scarlet, music, dew–these are incredible versions of these songs in a year that has many incredible
versions. If you want to be biased because this is an audience tape
REVIEW: top stuff
inspired playing, sweet recording,
REVIEW: A must have!
I love this show! Second ever Estimated and Terrapin!
REVIEW: Cali Sizzler
Incredible show from recording and musical standpoints. The instrumentaily, vocals, and overall energy
are off the charts–Jer is particularly on point!
Excellent versions of Half-Step, Music, and St. Stephen, among others.
REVIEW: Bertrando
Robertrando is one of the fathers of audience recordings…this is a really good example of a spring ’77
show whith full, rich Lesh and nice room sound. Give it a listen.
REVIEW: Not in the Vault
Apparently, this show is not in the GD Vault. Robert Bleedstein says this could be the only known
source of this show.
REVIEW: SBD Spoiled?
I contend that this is very good AUD quality for a 1977 show. It is easy to get spoiled on SBDs — they’re
so clean and if the mix is right, everything is all there. But SBDs don’t give you a sense of the ambiance
of the hall. After all, music is heard as sound waves passing through air. Good AUD recordings are a
treasure and it is hard to find high quality AUDs from the era before taper’s pits.
“Today’s Dead Tomorrow”, Upcoming Gig Events
As always, verify with the venue…
Florida Mountain Boys:
JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe, Fri., Mar. 3rd, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
987 South Packinghouse Road, Sarasota, 371-9358
Kettle Of Fish:
Blasé Café, Tues., Feb. 28th, 7:00 p.m.
5263 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key, 349-9822
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Wed., Mar. 1st, 7:00 p.m.
5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, 346-5443
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Thurs., Mar. 2nd, 6:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
The Blue Rooster, Fri., Mar. 3rd, 8:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
Blue Marlin AMI, Sat., Mar. 4th, 7:00 p.m..
121 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, 896-9737
Stottlelmeyer’s Smokehouse, Sun., Mar. 5th, 3:00 p.m.
19 East Rd., Sarasota, 312-5969
Ober Rivers and His D.U.I.s:
McCabe’s Irish Pub, Sat., Mar. 4th, 8:00 p.m..
302 12th St. W., Bradenton, 896-3126
Ship Of Fools:
D.Coy Ducks Bar & Music, Sat., Mar. 4th, 10:00 p.m..
5410 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach, 778-5888
The Blue Rooster:
Mon., Feb. 27th, Monday Jazz with Steve Arvey, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 28th, Suitcase Full Of Blues, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 1st, Joe and Vicki Price(Best Independent Blues Album), 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Thurs., Mar. 2nd, SOULTZ Band featuring Sugar and Spice), 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 3rd, Kettle Of Fish, 8:00 – 11:30 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 4th, Lauren Mitchell, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 5th, Truality, 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. seatings
Damon Fowler, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe: (all shows start at 7:00 p.m.)
Tues., Feb. 28th, Rick Miller
Wed., Mar. 1st, Buddy Gibson
Thurs., Mar. 2nd, The Joneses
Fri., Mar. 3rd, Florida Mountain Boys
Sat., Mar. 4th, John Howard & The Smokin’ J’s
987 South Packinghouse Road, 371-9358
Sarasota Folk Club:
This month’s Sarasota Sailing Squadron concert is Mon., Feb. 27th, Bill and Kate Isles.
Next month’s Sailing Squadron concert is Mon., Mar. 27th, Larry Mangum.
Open mic at 7:15 p.m., concert at 8:30
1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy. 388-2355
For all information regarding the Sarasota Folk Club, go to their website:
http://www.sarasotafolk.org/