The Grateful Dead's annual series of New Year's shows in San Francisco were always special occasions, especially to San Francisco Deadheads, of course. In 1977, the band, which had released Terrapin Station, its first studio album since returning from its retirement, toured heavily to support that album and was thus well-oiled for the four nights it spent at what was in effect its home venue, Winterland. This three-CD set presents most of the second concert, held on December 29, and some of the third one, held the following night. Casual fans may find it a competent but unexceptional show, while Deadheads will treasure the 53-and-a-half-minute medley in the second set (and on the second CD) of "Playing in the Band/China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider/China Doll/Playing Jam/Drums/Not Fade Away/Playing in the Band," especially because it marks the first performance of the 1969 song "China Cat Sunflower" in over three years (that's why you hear all that applause when they start to play it). Note that the CD deletes performances of "It Must Have Been the Roses" (a Robert Hunter song) and "Sunrise" (a showcase for singer Donna Jean Godchaux) that took place in the second set after the medley of "Bertha/Good Lovin'" and that the third CD, containing the encores of "Terrapin Station" and "Johnny B. Goode," has been filled up with a second-set medley from December 30 of "Estimated Prophet/Eyes of the World/St. Stephen/Sugar Magnolia."

Disc one
"Jack Straw" (Robert Hunter, Bob Weir) – 7:05
"They Love Each Other" (Hunter, Jerry Garcia) – 7:44
"Mama Tried" (Merle Haggard) – 3:48
"Loser" (Hunter, Garcia) – 8:29
"Looks Like Rain" (John Perry Barlow, Weir) – 8:38
"Tennessee Jed" (Hunter, Garcia) – 9:09
"New Minglewood Blues" (Traditional arr. Weir) – 6:05
"Sugaree" (Hunter, Garcia) – 14:18
"Promised Land" (Chuck Berry) – 4:35

Disc two
"Bertha" (Hunter, Garcia) – 7:20
"Good Lovin'" (Rudy Clark, Artie Resnick) – 6:50
"Playing in the Band" (Hunter, Mickey Hart, Weir) – 15:48
"China Cat Sunflower" (Hunter, Garcia) – 5:39
"I Know You Rider" (Traditional arr. Grateful Dead) – 5:27
"China Doll" (Hunter, Garcia) – 7:24
"Playing Jam" (Hart, Weir) – 1:40
"Drums" (Hart, Bill Kreutzmann) – 2:39
"Not Fade Away" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) – 10:05
"Playing in the Band" (Hunter, Hart, Weir) – 4:48

Disc three
"Terrapin Station" (Hunter, Garcia) – 10:29
"Johnny B. Goode" (Berry) – 4:36
"Estimated Prophet" (Barlow, Weir) – 10:46
"Eyes of the World" (Hunter, Garcia) – 15:25
"St. Stephen" (Hunter, Garcia, Phil Lesh) – 9:18
"Sugar Magnolia" (Hunter, Weir) – 9:53

It's been a lot of fun working through all 36 of them, definitely educational and probably unhealthy.

would you say that it's been a long, strange trip?

This has given me a new appreciation of "classic" Dead songs that I didn't really know or care for before, including, but not limited to: St. Stephen, New Minglewood Blues, and Looks Like Rain. Hell, I even really like Dark Star now, after YEARS of avoidance. I think, inevitably this project also makes you sour on certain aspects/songs: Charlie don't like El Paso, I fucking LOATHE Dancin in the Streets, etc.

All in all though, this was a great way to ruin Fall 09!

TREMENDOUS job, people. Let's give ourselves a round of whatevers.

'Luudes and patchouli scented candles?

This has given me a new appreciation of "classic" Dead songs that I didn't really know or care for before, including, but not limited to: St. Stephen, New Minglewood Blues, and Looks Like Rain. Hell, I even really like Dark Star now, after YEARS of avoidance. I think, inevitably this project also makes you sour on certain aspects/songs: Charlie don't like El Paso, I fucking LOATHE Dancin in the Streets, etc.

All in all though, this was a great way to ruin Fall 09!

at the start i was more of a late 70s guy, and now find that my favored shows are 71-73ish

Really good point. If anything/if nothing else, this experiment has killed certain songs for me – They Love Each Other, China Cat/Rider, Sugar Magnolia – revealed other dark horses as my favourites – Black Throated Wind, Weather Report Suite, Loser – and further entrenched both extremes of tight bluegrass and loose space as what really commands my attention.

Eyes

This was kind of a weird, meandering 'Playing with the Band'. They slowed it down minimal, like when you pull apart gum and you're down the final bit of tensile strength before it separates into something else and then it does.

Holy shit, that may be the most animated I've ever heard Jerry sing during the "Wish I was a headlight..." part of IKYR