“There Is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert!”
Grateful Dead, Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA
July 17, 1982
(FOB) Sennheiser 421 -> Cassette Master
Recorded By Jim Wise
All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller
The first line in the Taper’s Compendium(reviewed by local Deadhead Andy Lemieux) sstates: “These
shows in the dry and dusty fairgrounds are crisp, cracking and drenched with energy on tape”:
Disc 1 – Set 1:
1. tuning
2. Bertha >
3. Greatest Story Ever Told
4. They Love Each Other
5. Me And My Uncle >
6. Big River
7. Althea >
8. Little Red Rooster
9. Tennessee Jed >
10. Truckin’
Disc 2 – Set 2:
1. Playing In The Band >
2. China Cat Sunflower >
3. I Know You Rider >
4. Estimated Prophet >
5. Drums >
6. Space >
7. The Wheel >
8. Playing In The Band >
9. Around And Around >
10. One More Saturday Night
Encore:
11. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
These reviews are from the Charlie Miller remaster:
REVIEW: There are issues
1. Band has technical difficulties in set 1, what sounds like short-circuiting of guitar amps, microphones
not working, etc.
2. The levels are high, so you get a lot of sound, but Bobby’s guitar sounds louder than Jerry’s, Brents
keys sound louder than Phil’s bass.
3. Croud noise isn’t bad, but Wind affects the microphones intermittently.
4. There really isn’t any transition between Althea and Rooster, after Tenn. Jed they do start playing
Truckin’ immediately. They jam out the Truckin’ pretty good in the middle, it ends a little weird, as if
maybe there was a thought to transition into something else perhaps.
5. Show is high energy, but the Estimated is butchered; some nice jamming before drums as a
consolation prize.
REVIEW: Best Truckin’ of the ’80s
Certainly one of the most unique. The last 5 minutes are pure bliss. Aside from the technical issues
listed by the reviewer below, this is a great show. This is also the best sounding source to my ears.
Good ‘ole Charlie Miller/Jim Wise combo. I rarely listen to a show the whole way through, but for some
reason I couldn’t stop with this one. The setlist is quite good, and the band is playing with a unique
energy. Jerry’s voice, most notably, is in fine form this evening. The Baby Blue closer topped this show
of nicely. I’m not a big fan of ’82, but this one is remarkable. Enjoy.
REVIEW: bread crumb
I thought the Playing > China Cat >Rider was kind of unique, and I was right. Quite a rare combination
– only 3 times in a second set. I was suprised to see how many things got played into China Cat though.
I always think of it and Know You Rider as kind of a complete and inseparable couple.
REVIEW: swaying palm trees
warm sun and the Grateful Dead in a big open air show and doing it just right.
These reviews are from other recordings:
REVIEW: Sounds great to me
This show gets 5 stars for a few reasons. Was my first show in California. Just perfect way to kick off
summer tour.Sunshine friends and fun fun fun. As for the show love the Truckin to end 1st set,so did
they is easy to tell.Seems as if they did not want it to end and almost go into Other One a few times
towards the end.2nd set is spacey and fun. Love the extra stuff bobby throws in from time to time. Huge
fan of 2nd set opening with Playin leaves things wide open for exploring.And explore the boys do with
China rider out the playin jam. After the show was crazy seems everyone wanted to get there tape on
the air ASAP. Was playing everywhere around the campground threw out the night.
REVIEW: Great quality
A killer first set. I love the August shows and hadn’t really explored much of July until now. Seems like
they lose a bit of steam for the 2nd set (compared to 8/7/82), but it’s still very good. They have a little
bit of trouble trying to finish up the 1st set with Truckin, and it’s interesting to listen to them try and
finish the song. They couldn’t quite do it like they did on the Nov 77 show when they used it as a show
closer. but this is still prime time dead. It doesn’t get much better then summer ’82
REVIEW: Sweeeeeeeeet !!!
Amazing to think that I was actually at this show. I honestly even heard me howl in there between songs
somewhere…Ventura…right on the beach, with the sand between our toes and the salt on our skin, just
graduated high school and we were on to Red Rocks after this. Great show here, good Tennessee Jed…
one year (I didn’t hear it here) a train actually passed behind the fairgrounds during that tune or during
He’s Gone. Good segue into the Wheel! Only problem with the way the show plays is the song order. It
had me all screwed up listening to Baby Blue sandwiched in there. Oh Well…
REVIEW: ventura
this was my first show in california,what away to kick off so many years of fun. i had no idea at this
point that i would not miss another show till late 89. the bus came by and i stayed on. as far as the show
goes i am a huge fan of 2nd sets that open with playin cause ya just never know where they are gonna
take ya after the first song. In this case china/rider and the place was just swirling in dust. I miss the
good old days sometimes. i give three stars cause its kinda to much high end.
REVIEW: Show was great till end
This show was fantastic until the Around and Around. The Truckin’ to close the 1st set was outstanding,
a big surprise, and for a while, it looked like they would even carry that jam further into the Other One.
But alas, no. This is one of my favorite China Cat Riders, there’s a moment in the transition jam that,
and I don’t remember if it was captures on this tape, but if you close your eyes, and this is from what
happened to me at the show (and continues to this day), the Universe sparkles.
REVIEW: A Funny Show
This show has some great moments mixed in with some awkward ones, I say it’s a winner and certainly
better than most the shows I saw in the late 80s/90s. The last half of the first set is loose but smokin,
Playin has some sweet finessing, Jerry’s does some fine nuanced chord soloing in Rider, Estimated’s
middle reentry is rough but it recovers (just like a swiss watch!), and the last half is pure fun with some
great Jerry on the Wheel and Bob throwing some different vocals in the Reprise and Around.
“Today’s Dead Tomorrow”, Upcoming Gig Events
As always, verify with the venue…
Kettle Of Fish:
Marina Jack’s Patio Bar, Thurs., July 20th, 6:00 p.m.
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 365-4232
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Fri., July 21st, 5:00 p.m.
777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 955-7676
The Blue Rooster, Sat. July 22nd, 8:00 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
Michael Miller:
Sarasota Wine Bar and Bistro, Sat. July 22nd, 8:00 p.m.
1528 Main Street, Sarasota, 366-6363
Schmitz Brothers Band:
Old School Bar & Grill, Sat. July 22nd, 7:00 p.m.
1991 Main St., Sarasota, 363-7744
Ship Of Fools:
Hoosier Bar and Grill, Fri., July 21st, 9:00 p.m.
163 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, 966-1251
The Blue Rooster:
Tues., July 18th, Dean Johanesen, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Wed., July 19th, Steve Arvey & Bill Buchman, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Thurs., July 20th, KoKo Ray & The Keepers, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Fri., July 21st, Lauren Mitchell, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sat., July 22nd, Kettle Of Fish, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Sun., July 23rd, Truality gospel brunch, Noon – 2:30 p.m.
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, 388-7539
J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe: (all shows start at 7:00 p.m.)
Mon., July 17th, Open Mic with Rick Alvis
Tues., July 18th, Rick Miller
Wed., July 19th, George Worthmore
Thurs., July 20th, Ted Stevens & The Dew Shots
Fri., July 21st, Jason Haram Group
Sat., July 22nd, Smokin’ Bones
987 South Packinghouse Road, 371-9358
Sarasota Folk Club:
This month’s Sarasota Sailing Squadron concert is Mon., July 31st, Bill & Eli Perras.
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/