Iko Iko, Minglewood Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Me & My Uncle-> Mexicali Blues, Stagger Lee, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song, Promised Land Hey Pocky Way, Believe It Or Not, Women Are Smarter, He's Gone-> Drums-> Jam-> I Need A Miracle-> Gimme Some Lovin'-> All Along The Watchtower-> Morning Dew, E:Blackbird-> E: Brokedown Palace

yet another DAE/re-SHN of the exisitng DSBD?; posted to abgd by terrapin flyer

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Reviewer: Dark Star 101 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 24, 2020

Subject: Good Fun! I love the On This Day feature because it constantly serves up cool shows I haven’t found on my own yet - this is no exception! I never made it to Alpine Valley but have many friends who did and heard their tales. Yes, as many pointed out below, the vocal effects are odd and take some getting used to, but some real high points in this show. Love the Pockey Way 2nd set opener - very hot! - and yes the Dew is thunderous! The stories below of dazed Heads wandering up to Jerry while he plays are priceless - the show truly reaching an emotional climax! While the Black Bird wasn’t perfect, it was incredibly fresh and alive, and I can only imagine the impact of “you were only waiting for this moment to be free” had on the Heads as the summer tour lay out before them. Ah, those were the days when we stopped to decide, where we should go we just ride.... - June 24, 2020Good Fun!

Reviewer: Jack_Diamond - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2020

Subject: Fond Memory One of my first shows. My first one pitching a tent in the parking lot. So many fabulous experiences. i was blown away and confirmed my love for the band. I just smile thinking about it - June 23, 2020Fond Memory

Reviewer: Pacoperu - favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2019

Subject: Had forgotten Greendaddy I had forgotten about the stage visitor to Jerry -- I was under the pavilion that night and remember what you described...mellow attempt to get close to Jerry G. With ya regarding that tour...I went to Alpine and Buckeye -- drove from Tallahassee Florida in a VW bus...long trek...especially at 62 mph...lol...several of my crew went all the way to Maine. The Dust Bowl shows...and vividly remember the sun coming up cooking me in my tent before 6am -- being so close to Summer Solstice and the latitude of WI..we had like 18 hours of sunlight...dirt blowing around...but such a great time. Overall the shows were a great time...can't say they were top 10 shows for me -- but a great time nonetheless...!!! - June 23, 2019Had forgotten Greendaddy

Reviewer: Greendaddy - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 30, 2017

Subject: Still holds up after almost 30 years I personally have a hard time listening to any of the SBD's from this Alpine run, as Healy was applying a slow panning stereo chorus to the mix. (The experiment obviously didn't work because I don't hear any other boards with that effect after.) There's some good AUD's out there that give the feeling of "being there".



I did most of this summer tour (some of the fondest memories of my life)! This night, although not perfect, was one where if you were there, you'd never forget it. Especially the Morning Dew. It was the Magic of the Grateful Dead at it's best. I haven't read all of the reviews, but I haven't seen anyone mention that during the Dew, on two separate occasions, a person from the audience walked up on stage toward Garcia. Nothing threatening, just in awe of Garcia. The second person came up right after the crescendo of the first solo. He/she (can't recall the sex after 29 years), walked toward Garcia from Weir's side got within 5 feet of Jerry, backed up as if there was a force field around Garcia, backed up a foot and sat down, cross legged by his speaker cabinet. Of course Parish was there within seconds, but just politely got the dude/dudette up and gently escorted the mesmerized dead head off the stage. I you listen closely you can hear Jerry chuckle during the first line "Walk me out in the morning dew..." after the solo. Great Memories! Epic Dew. Miss the boys... - January 30, 2017Still holds up after almost 30 years

Reviewer: doug_the_dude - favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2014

Subject: -- Can't say I'm among the total and absolute believers on this one, although this show's been with me for many a year - it's instantly recognizable. yeah, the sound can give you a little aural seasickness if listened to with headphones, although it isn't *completely* distracting...more the problems here are with the performance itself - give me the big Jerry ballads: Bird Song (sounds like the band should be wearing tuxedos), He's Gone, and de Dew - check those thunderous solos on the latter - along with an absolutely mind-boggling (blackbird???) drumz > space, and that'll do it for me. Just can't get excited about all the rest of this - there were some great shows in '88 but this is overrated, imho...I mean, Bobby sounds completely tanked post-space...anyways, to each his own...



PS. That Blackbird / Brokedown encore is one of the more enjoyable times the band broke the 4th wall with a vocal train wreck - how can you not love Brent's laugh? Totally infectious. There is a sweet sadness to this that I can't quite put my finger on, maybe due to Brent's passing two years later... - June 23, 2014--

Reviewer: kee-zee - - September 3, 2013

Subject: Take these broken wings and learn to fly Weird sound of sure..My younger brother drove out to these shows in my 75 Caprice Classic..he had a blast!!. Alpine was in the top 5 places to see the band..IMHO..I've mentioned this in my reviews before that 88' is not one of my favorite years and I saw a ton of shows in 88'..I don't know? Not a bad show at all..so please>GIVE IT A WHIRL>Forever Grateful>Forever Dead!! - September 3, 2013Take these broken wings and learn to fly

Reviewer: drwetz1 - - April 15, 2012

Subject: Alpine 6/23/88 remembrances Haven't listened to this upload, as I have a sweet SBD from years ago, but thought I'd share some recollections of this day.



They came out for the second set, and Brent walked over to Bob as the rest of the band was still coming back. Weir listened and nodded, apparently agreeing to Brent's request.



They then opened with a kickass Hey Pocky Way, which we'd never seen before in the Midwest. (Can't recall too easily a second set thst Brent had ever opened before!) The version is terrific, as you'll hear, and the crowd was Blown Away. (Pun intended, as the Alpine Vallet crowd was later to do similarly for Blow Away.). I remember Weir looking at Brent afterward with raised eyebrows (we had great seats) as if to say, "Well, how 'bout that?" They then proceeded into the first and greatest ever performance of Believe It Or Not. The crowd went wild on the outro and propelled Jerry to searing vocal repetitions of the chorus. It was a gorgeous spontaneous surprise for crowd and band alike. One of my many favorite Alpine high recollects... - April 15, 2012Alpine 6/23/88 remembrances

Reviewer: 74_Fan - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2011

Subject: Lovely I only found this show b/c of the "this day in Dead history" link, which I'm using more and more these days. Great show, very listenable, would kill for a Matrix of this.



All the other reviewers have covered what's so good--and not so good--about the show. Even though the mid-80s to early-90s was when I went to shows, I'm not too nostalgic about those days and prefer the earlier stuff ('68-'74 mainly), but every now and then I hear something from this era, and I get choked up. I was not at this show, but the sound is very familiar to me, this era and setlist, and this is a fine example. Oh how I miss them...I become a bigger fan with each passing year, and wish I'd felt more comfortable with the scene at the time and could have seen more shows (well, I could have, but usually declined. Silly me.)



The Dead were a cultural phenomenon, a true inspiration for an anti-authoritarian, alternative lifestyle, and the people at the shows I met were so, so very wonderful. Thank you all for being so good to this young 'un back then. - June 23, 2011Lovely

Reviewer: bigbeahner - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2011

Subject: Believe It Or Not.... The strangeness of the sound you hear comes from the SBD feed, and is on any SBD copy of this show circulating.

Need a time machine to correct it....



Great setlist, fun show... Thanks to all involved who make it possible for us to still listen to this piece of history.. - June 23, 2011Believe It Or Not....

Reviewer: East Coast Dave in WA - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 30, 2010

Subject: Jboy must die! Just kidding, I found his reviews annoying (a kind of low-rent version of Greil Marcus, another individual who's writing I can't stand), so I just skip 'em. However, I fully support Jboy's right to post reviews, and feel they should be available for anyone who would care to read them.

I also have to post a quick opinion on any given review style. I don't particularly care to read stories about people's fond memories of the show, or tour stories, good or bad (some have been interesting, though). A reviewer below expressed consternation at why everyone is so focused on "quality"??? My answer to that would be, "what else is there?" Would you use this show to try to get someone into the Dead who hadn't heard them? Would someone who wasn't there and didn't have the fond memories you do come back to this one for repeated listening? Again, anyone can write and post reviews in any style and from any angle they want. I'm just throwing out my opinion, so keep those stories comin' (I'll just skip those parts.....lol).

For this show, I'd say, "yes" (at least to question #2). Strong from start to finish (except for Blackbird). Jerry's vocals are heartfelt and passionate, and sounding as sweet as it was possible for him to sound at this stage of the game. While Blackbird is more or less shabby and unrehearsed, the fact that you can feel the good mood of the band (along with the novelty/rarity factor) make it fun. I'll admit it sounded way better to me on the night they played it than just now. Plus, they threw in a sweet Brokedown for a bonus. Believe It Or Not could be a "best version ever", and the rest of the show ranges in the "better than average" to "great" category (except Blackbird, but there are mitigating circumstances, in my opinion). Stream the soundboard, download the audience if you need to own it. Best night of the 88 Alpine run. 4+ stars, rounded up to 5. - June 30, 2010Jboy must die!

Reviewer: John Bouffard - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 25, 2010

Subject: Brent Was awesome as a back up singer or helper in alot of Bobby songs like Stranger, Rooster,Women Are Smarter, Midnight Hour and you get the point. Kind of trading off lines or repeating verses. Sharing a song with Phil. There was nobody better. He was the man on the keys also but lead singer he was not, sorry. Maybe Mr Fantasy but I cant think of any other song that makes me go wow I have to hear that again and again. I can listen to Jerry blow the words on Terrapin a 1000 times and not get sick of it. Sorry I love Brent and wished he was still around but a lead singer he was not. - June 25, 2010Brent

Reviewer: Leee14 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 25, 2010

Subject: Great show but distracting vocal flanging I agree with a lot of the other reviewers that this show contained some real gems. My personal favorites are within the 2nd set: Hey Pocky Way and one of Jerry's most emotional singing I've ever heard in Believe it or Not. And of course the sheer fun of Blackbird. I've had an audience tape for years and wished I could get a better copy. I heard this soundboard tape for the first time and said UGHHH!, I'll go back to my audience tape. The vocal flanging was very distracting, it especially made them seem like they were singing off-key during Women are Smarter, but most of all, I really miss the audience's cheers during Believe it or Not. To me that felt as much a part of this emotional song as Jerry's singing itself.

I know audience noise can be distracting much of the time, but for this song in particular it seemed to definitely add to the song. - April 25, 2010Great show but distracting vocal flanging

Reviewer: crazygoat1967 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 11, 2009

Subject: How beautiful it was. I've been reading a lot of the reviews out there and I'm a little dismayed at how much they focus on quality, whether the boys were on, set selection, etc... For me, a show like this will always be priceless because it captures time. I listen to this Alpine run and remember all the little things that, together with the music, make up my experience on tour. This was my first "real" tour. I bought a one-way plane ticket to Minnesota and relied on that unwritten etiquette, where no one is left behind, to get back East. I remember finding that little stream, just outside the fence, where the few who knew about it found respite from the heat. It was here that I really began to make the deep connections with other heads that, post-Jerry, I miss and try to re-establish today. I remember the turf spikes we found and piled up by the speakers on the hill (or was that '89 during the rains?) and the bogus opium peddled in the lot. The lucky campsites amidst the trees and spending the first night sleeping on the gravel underneath a school bus after having been separated from my ride, with no shoes or any gear.

All I had really brought with me that summer was the belief, NO, the knowledge that I was SUPPOSED to BE there. Among folks "who got it." Not really knowing what "IT" was.

Above all, I remember the boys bouncing out for Blackbird, Bobby's good mood, that laughing (Brent's?) and just how beautiful everything was as the show came to its conclusion and we wandered slowly out to the lots. These shows changed me, made me feel part of something bigger.

A lot has transpired in the past 20 years. But with recordings such as these, I feel 20 again and as if nothing can contain my Joy. Best of all, I got a ticket to the Sunday Furthur show! - September 11, 2009How beautiful it was.

Reviewer: DollarBillS - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 28, 2009

Subject: Believe it or not? Alright, enough already! I feel like I have to defend Jboy here for some reason. I usually don't like his reviews either. But...



I'm glad for all you people who went to the shows, Woo! Hoo! for you, but I don't care what you were on, and how high you were. What I am interested in is: did the Dead play well? The answer to this one is: kind of. This is better than the night before, but still, missed lyrics, and sloppy transitions DO NOT make for a five star show, in my opinion! Unless the jams or something makes up for it, which in this show didn't



And for Brent fans out there, it pisses me off that some reviewers hated the "I Will Take You Home" before drums last night, but it's ok that Jerry debuts "Believe it or Not" in the second set.



The chorus effect doesn't bother me much. In my opinion, it doesn't sound like it was added later. You should all know by now that you have to deal with what Healy throws at you.



Three stars for the playing, four because it's a soundboard copy. So I'm rounding up to four stars to avoid hate mail. No hard feelings, it's just opinion. - July 28, 2009Believe it or not?

Reviewer: BIG_R - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 14, 2009

Subject: NICE Very great musicianship. Sweet show. Be forwarned though. If you have a stereo with no subwoofer like I do the bass is mighty thin. - July 14, 2009NICE

Reviewer: HRuff - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 1, 2009

Subject: My friend jboyaquar It is sad in a way to read jboyaquar review of this show. While you can tell he spent a long time thinking it through, a 3.5 on the Morning Dew? The rest a 3.0? Maybe your rating scale only goes up to 3.5 - then I get where you are coming from.



I saw my fair share of shows and seen a ton outside the GD. The entire second set that night was a monster and the AM Dew was Godzilla jumping from the ropes and body slamming Tokyo. Then to come out 5 minutes later and send us off with a Blackbird and Brokedown. Holy Crap. - July 1, 2009My friend jboyaquar

Reviewer: Dylan M - - June 17, 2009

Subject: Blackbird Wish the boys would have done this more than the one time (with Brent, atleast). Yeah they totally butcher the lyrics and Brent laughs during the performance because of it. The camp and rarity factor caries it through. This seems like it could have been an awesome encore addition to their catalog and a much better Beatles cover decision than some of the cheezier ones they chose to do.



If only they had practiced this one and not gotten discouraged from flubbing this performance, i believe this one has the power to go up there with encore greats with the likes of Brokedown, Black Muddy, Baby Blue, Attics, etc. - June 17, 2009Blackbird

Reviewer: cha-ka - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 2, 2009

Subject: Great Show-Great Sound! Very crisp sound and the playing is inspired. The mix is especially nice. No complaints here. Can't beat the price. - May 2, 2009Great Show-Great Sound!

Reviewer: krustytheclown - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 8, 2008

Subject: Magic Sure the lazy listener will nit pick two decades later. Put in it's proper context, this was a magical night. Alpine was the big one in those days. East coast energy with a west coast feel, pure midwest Dead. The psychedelic sound adds nuance, and makes this show among a handful of pre midi and Darkstar gems.



This night, along with 9/3/88 and 2/10/89, were extra crispy due to Healy's sonic goofiness. Nothing special, just messing with the sound, but with time these shows have become favorites in my collection. It's obvious that the Dead did their thing- they played music and earned a living doing it. They provided a scene for one hell of a party. Nights like this were the peaks along the way. Good ol' Grateful Dead with a little dose of something extra! - December 8, 2008Magic

Reviewer: Thad - - August 18, 2008

Subject: Bad sound Most likely when this was mastered from the original tapes, someone inadvertently had a Phaser or Flange effect turned on in their mastering/editing software, or somewhere in the transfer process. What you are hearing is not normal. It's messed up. Ruins it for me - and others apparently. - August 18, 2008Bad sound

Reviewer: eviking - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 24, 2008

Subject: bad sound? Whoever thinks this sound sucks needs to invest in some decent speakers - as far as the set list goes - believe it or not, blackbird. etc...sweet!!! - June 24, 2008bad sound?

Reviewer: Teaklee - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 2, 2008

Subject: The Sound What strikes me so much about this show is the sound of this recording. There are several comments both on the plus and minus side of this issue, for me I love it!! It is an amazingly crisp and clean sound, and yes it does have a kind of underwater feel to it as well and you can almost feel the guitar strings vibrate.

Otherwise i think this is an above par show with my favorite being the post drums and yes the Dew is all that!! Thanks GD!!! - May 2, 2008The Sound

Reviewer: Drumheadz - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 21, 2008

Subject: Love this Show The best of the run. I was at them all. Started the first night on one hit. Second night was 2. Third was at least 3 maybe 4 and this night was 5. The most square meals I've ingested in a five day span ever. I love the sound here. Whatever Heally did made it very unique. My fav's... Roses, Pocky Way, Believe it or Not, He's gone, Dew, Blackbird and Brokedown. Great night!

Me and my buddy drove 40 miles the next morning to get doughnuts at one of my favorite bakeries and the place had closed down. One Hell of a Ride! - March 21, 2008Love this Show

Reviewer: skr213 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 1, 2008

Subject: a special show for me Overall: A much more solid night than the night before. This was my favorite night of the run. Healey was apparently, as others have noted, adding a stupid flange effect the vocals (and instruments at times), but if you listen to the audience recording (as opposed to this soundboard) it actually kind of fits with the acoustics created by that huge Alpine roof. It definitely takes away from the peformance, but it's not horrible and you get used to it, plus its not as prominent in the second set. Aside from that, the song selection is really fantastic and the playing is mostly solid and at times great. One interesting note - Bobby loses his place rhythmically several times during this show, either falling one beat ahead or behind the song (Masterpiece, Bird Song, Women R, etc.), which cracks me up.



The scene: the dust bowl coming to a close. After the show, Frank and I split ASAP and drove all night to get back for our high school graduation. I used to have a funny picture of Frank with his head back against the passenger seat of the bus, asleep, and a really beautiful sunrise in the background. The school didn't want to let us participate in the graduation ceremony, ostensibly because we hadn't attended the rehearsal. In reality, they were just pissed because we skipped half our finals to go to these Alpine shows, but our grades were still good enough to graduate (that really ticked them off). But this night brought to a close our first run of Alpine shows and was special for me in a few different ways.



The music: Set I: A decent Aiko is always a good way to start an evening. Roses is just rare enough to be special (I seem to recall never hearing it more than once a tour) and this is a beautiful version, even with Healey's vocal effects. Masterpiece>Bird Song>Promised Land is one of my favorite first set song blocks. The jam on this Bird Song is definitely unique, although it rides that fine line between disjointed and "out there."



Set II: Hey Pockey Way continues the outstanding song selection for the evening, and Brent's working hard to get you off your ass and shake that thang. Believe it or Not continues the nightly new song parade for this Alpine run. I think this song faded away soon after its debut because Standing on the Moon (which debuted less than a year later) sort of had a similar vibe and it was, frankly, a better song. Women R Smarter gets everybody dancing again, with some nice moments from Brent. He's Gone was really special for me this night. On the day we left for Alpine our friend Nick died in a car accident. Frank and I didn't find out until the 21st when we called some friends to give them the set list updates for the first couple of shows. So when they started playing this, I sat over by the little group of trees on the far Phil side and cried a little. I'd known Nick since elementary school, but only been friends with him the last couple of years - mostly because he lived in the same neighborhood as Bill P, so we all wound up hanging out. The week after Alpine, he was supposed to move into the apartment on Alliance Ave (with Aaron, Larry, and Jaime) that I moved into that fall when I got back from fall tour. This is a decent version with a somber little jam afterward. Drums has a lot of intresting sounds and instrumentation on this evening. Miracle>GSL>Watchtower is another favorite song-block of mine and this one is played really well. Dew is awesome. Jerry really wails out some lyrics and Phil churns out some big chords at one point as well. There are two very nice peaks to it. Blackbird encore?? This one blew me away. It had some really special meaning for me personally because I was embarcing on my first full tour, I was graduating from high school with so much ahead of me, and this was my first trip in the new VW that would be my home periodically for a few years while out on the road. In sum, I "was only waiting for this moment to arrive." This was the first of only two "attempts" at Blackbird (they screwed up both pretty well). It was a complete surprise to me at the time, but astute listeners might not have been so surprised. At the beginning of the second set on 4/8/88 Jerry played a full couple of lines of this song before they started the set. Brokedown is always my favorite of the slow-tune encores. To this day it still reminds me of falling asleep with my walkman on as a 15 year-old kid listening to Dead Set. - February 1, 2008a special show for me

Reviewer: Burnt Rich - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 2, 2008

Subject: THE SUNS NOT YELLOW, IT IS CHICKEN To quote Bob Dylan in regards to you guys giving this show 2 or 3 stars!!! Come on!!!! WHAT are you looking for in YOUR perception of what a Dead show is supposed to be? The sound is a bit compromised, but the show is incredible. This show is a fairly high watermark for the year 1988 in my ears and hearts opinion. They do not get much better for the times!! Dull song selection in set 2??? WITF!!

Pockey>Believe It Or Not>Man Smart>H's Gone to get the second set rolling is far from a dull time in my book. Any Believe It Or Not is such a gift. - January 2, 2008THE SUNS NOT YELLOW, IT IS CHICKEN

Reviewer: goofyjuggleingstars - favorite favorite - December 30, 2007

Subject: watch out for that flanger what idiot put that flanger on this!

great show but ruined by the sound - December 30, 2007watch out for that flanger

Reviewer: hezgone - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 1, 2007

Subject: Gooney Birds Oh the masses! I do remember people walking on stage that night. I thought I was just hallucinating! What a summer that was... I think everyone saw the gooney birds this night, especially healy. The sound is freaky... I played this sbd version LOUD on a 7500 watt stereo PA outdoors last weekend WoW I think the stereo chorus on something also... - November 1, 2007Gooney Birds

Reviewer: kaotics - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 6, 2007

Subject: Beautiful When you hear Jerry pouring his heart out through his vocal expression on "Believe It or Not" and "Dew", it stops you Dead in your tracks. I defy anyone to listen without feeling the robust emotion course through you, reminding us all once again what it was all about.



Forever in our hearts. 4 stars for the 80's. - July 6, 2007Beautiful

Reviewer: johnniehaygood - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 11, 2007

Subject: I'll take Grateful Dead underwater rather than no Dead at all!! Prob the best version of Dew ever!! - June 11, 2007I'll take Grateful Dead underwater rather than no Dead at all!!

Reviewer: BornXEyed - favorite favorite - December 7, 2006

Subject: hmmm. I can't really agree with the glowing reviews below, except to say that seeing this show in person must have been a wonderful thing.



But the music itself, while played pretty cleanly, doesn't really have a fantastic flow. It's kind of dull in song selection, save for Stagger, BION, Blackbird. The only spirited moments are Weir on Watchtower and Jerry for Dew.



Nothing exceptional here imo. And sound quality is a little frustrating. As previousely noted in other reviews, it's sort of like listeing to music under water. - December 7, 2006hmmm.

Reviewer: Stefan W. - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 2, 2006

Subject: jboyaquar IÃÂ´m really done with these awful jboy reviews. Why is there someone who always has to complain?? If there are numerous of 4 or 5 stars reviews, who has to rate them worse always!!?? DonÃÂ´t give anything about the crap he has to say! The 80ÃÂ´s were a great decade for the Daed (musically) and just because the shows didnÃÂ´t sound like 77 or were shorter, thatÃÂ´s no reason to not enyoy them! Get as many shows you can get and have fun. Jerry, Pigpen and all the others lost on the road will always live on in our hearts. ThereÃÂ´s nothing like the Grateful Dead! - October 2, 2006jboyaquar

Reviewer: DandyBear - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 28, 2006

Subject: Solid Throughout Excellent show! Definately worth a listen. Wish the sound was a bit better.



Sound 3.75/5

Performance 4.25/5 - June 28, 2006Solid Throughout

Reviewer: majordomo - favorite favorite favorite - June 21, 2006

Subject: healy weird good to finally confirm that it was healy the prankster. during the am dew--i was hooking down some silly-cyben prior--i recall being somewhat flipped out by jerry's vocals. i do recall some folks wandering onstage as well... healy also toyed with weir's vocals during other 1 in the later 80's...this particular jerry wow and flutter was kinda creepy to me at the time---what with the 86' diabetic coma still fresh. anyhow, there WAS usually SOMETHING in the punch in east troy and i generally availed myself of it. had a head full of owsley in 85 and ran into bill walton. THAT was something. - June 21, 2006healy weird

Reviewer: august69 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 14, 2006

Subject: takin' me back what a run at alpine!

i sometimes have trouble recalling specific details from one show to the next, but as i was reading the alpine reviews, the memories started to run one after another. of course, the heat was oppressive that summer, and the mix of east coast and west coast heads made it an interesting 5 days. good first nightÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂexcellent stranger, GDTRFB seemed very appropriate and nice finish with jerry on heaven's door. second night the crowd was roaring to go! and the boys put on a nice show. second set was very festive. the off night also proved interesting, as always. around 2am, i tripped into a massage train and what seemed like hundreds of people melting into one long, winding snake throughout all of shakedown. (does that jog any memories?)

the third show left a little to be desired. between brent's take you home and jerry's stella blue, it just felt like a rough night.

but hey, they made up for it during the last showÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂand then some! killer set list (busted out stagger lee), heads on stage (what theÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ). second set, bob blew it out on miracle and good lovin' and jerry took us home with morning dew, blackbird (oops) and brokedown palace. smiles all around as we headed into the alpine night. it was magical indeed! - March 14, 2006takin' me back

Reviewer: PhriendOTD - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 12, 2006

Subject: Vocals Gans mentioned that Healy was running the band's vocals through some sort of effect that "made them swim around a little." For an 80's show, this is one of my favorites. - February 12, 2006Vocals

Reviewer: jboyaquar - favorite favorite favorite - January 5, 2006

Subject: Better than previous evening, but this isn't a top ten of '88 show 1st Set: Minor-league boogeying in a brevity-filled "Iko" welcomes us to this final night in Southern Wisconsin. "Minglewood" is modest but, of course, danceable... couple shots of whiskey, these farmer daughters...' :O) "Roses" keeps things sweet, if a tad thin. "Uncle" and "Mexicali" continues the easy if undynamic digestion. The boys are content to provide chill music. "Stagger" flows nicely and is expressive if not forceful. "Masterpiece" has that Sunday afternoon 'drive' tone...All night, Bobby's rhythm guitar has been a little sour and off. "Bird" is again pleasing, but nothing soars higher than rolling hills. The mellow set concludes with a lazy loose skiffle of a "Promised."



2nd Set: A call to festivities "Hey Pocky" opens up the final of eight sets from the Valley of Alpine. Tonight is the commencement of the less than two year life span of "Believe it or Not." It's a direct plea to a potential lover that despite his/her doubts the singer is committed to the blossoming of the relationship. Unfortunately, the insular quality of the tale and the undistinguishable melody hardly ever allows the song to reach a transcendental point. "Man Smart" is keen but nothing blisters - it's all nicely performed without rough edges or genuine excitement. "He's Gone" is a pretty straight-forward rendition. Some interesting tones and rhythms seemingly out of 'Cats' extenuate interest in a long "Drums" segment. "Space" feels slightly dirty leading to a Bobby cheesefest "Miracle" that continues the vibe of a good time without authentic drama (hear that Bobby, authentic, non-artificialized) keen outro moments around 3:05. More shakey's during "Gimme." "Watchtower" is enjoyable but doesn't grunge as hard as some better versions from earlier in the year, and '87. The "Dew" crunches harder and is at a three and a half star rate whereas the rest of the show is at three. The climax builds to a noisy crescendo, but it's a bit muddled and not really worthy of a show-ender.

We're encoring tonight with..oh my, that sounds like an acoustic strumming of "Blackbird." Their voices are not melding well on this recording...someone's distortion effects are quite distracting. Brent giggles after coming in early to the last verse....which causes the whole band to mildly chortle their way through the early 2's...the reprise is unnecessary... Because the music was at a minimal they easily stroll into a show-closing sweet lullabye "Brokedown."



3 1/8 stars - January 5, 2006Better than previous evening, but this isn't a top ten of '88 show

Reviewer: ;ittleneighborboy - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 2, 2005

Subject: End of an Era? This show is about as emotional as it gets for me. Life was hitting me from a lot of different angles. Marriage, job, etc. Overwhelmed, I stepped back, caught a string of shows (including Dylan) and came back recharged. Listening to this show is rejenuvating. Thank you very much, Archives and all parties involved. (Bows!) - October 2, 2005End of an Era?

Reviewer: Ms. Miller - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 19, 2005

Subject: Great Job!! Wow, you are fantastic. Another great job! - July 19, 2005Great Job!!

Reviewer: Docter - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 19, 2005

Subject: DeadHour Gans played all or some of this show as a dead hour 10 years ago or so. He mentioned something about the vocal's being different. Iirc it was intentional. Good show) - May 19, 2005DeadHour

Reviewer: yippierb - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 1, 2005

Subject: heat strokin hot Oh MY God! I know I'm gettin old but....... I consider this summer the last great Dead tour.It has great sentimental value for some of us that had been out there since the early 70's. I met my wife on this tour at Saratoga. From the blistering heat, to the piles of hail that looked like snow on the road in Maine we drove the Terrapin bus,the Rabbit,the Buick,the Chevy wagon, good gosh! The road just kept rolling.We were at Alpine for 6 nights, two of the days were 104f-105f back to back. The chilled cantalope filled with ice cream at the Lake Vienna diner may haved saved my life...nah,I have never had or heard this show on tape. I listened to Poky and it smoked. When I heard the "Belive It or Not" I broke into tears. So many memories. So many roads. So many good friends gone. So much of life passes by as we raise our kids and try to survive in a cruel profit driven world. My daughter is now 10 years older than I was when I saw my first show. Last night my two young sons and I danced a tribal stomp in the living room while listening to Rotterdam 72( yeah, mom was at work). But this show seemed to bring so much emotion back. "Belive it or Not", It's so typical Dead it could have been a "Pig" number. Now that the lads are gone I've started playing my drums again as my musical outlet. Pushing 50 and still playing the blues! but I will never forget this tour. The band seemed re-energized after some ...Ok I'll say it,Lame years. The scenes were huge but we made a last effort to impose the "old hippie" self governmant ethos it almost worked and did succeed in maintaining a purpose driven vibe especially at this venue.Remember cosmic recycylers,Micky in the clown suit and other band members out in the crowd/jungle. I wish I could go back. I love the archive and thank you for it. God Bless you all. Peace. We can still change the world. Think about it. Lets do it! Slante! - May 1, 2005heat strokin hot

Reviewer: dmilks - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 22, 2005

Subject: Believe It or Not



P.



What I wouldn't give to get to go to it again. The first and probably the best version the Dead did. Lyrically and musically it is really heavy, emotional, and lovely Jerry Garcia!! Hey Pocky Way is probably one of the best ever as well....This show smokes all around...And the Blackbird>Brokedown....yeah, it was so fun!!!P. S.- I just got chills reading spoonful2's recollection of the two people who made it onto the stage during AM Dew. Wow, kudos to Mr. Spoonful-you have a great memory, and you are right. I remember it now too.What I wouldn't give to get to go to it again. dmilks -- April 22, 2005Believe It or Not

Reviewer: BigToeSnow - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 19, 2005

Subject: sound God what a show, just cracklin and lots of energy and tight playin ... BUT the sound is off. This is killing me as the Believe It is spine tingling, and the rest of the show is really ON!



As mentioned just below, there is something off with the vocals, real spacy, kinda neat sound throguhout the show ... but too much and not intentional, so not an accurate recording of what was really going on.



If someone has a clear version of this show (not AUD as is already available -- just doesn't do justice to the quality of playing) please make it available.



This is a beautiful show, the best of 88 IMO ... just need more accurate sound. - April 19, 2005sound

Reviewer: BigToeSnow - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 19, 2005

Subject: sound God what a show, just cracklin and lots of energy and tight playin ... BUT the sound is off. This is killing me as the Believe It is spine tingling, and the rest of the show is really ON!



As mentioned just below, there is something off with the vocals, real spacy, kinda neat sound throguhout the show ... but too much and not intentional, so not an accurate recording of what was really going on.



If someone has a clear version of this show (not AUD as is already available -- just doesn't do justice to the quality of playing) please make it available.



This is a beautiful show, the best of 88 IMO ... just need more accurate sound. - April 19, 2005sound

Reviewer: tjabs1 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 18, 2005

Subject: Vocal Phasing Really great show...only giving it 4 stars though...due to the phasing of the vocals throughout the show..sounds almost like tape flanging..if that means anything to you..haven't listened to other sources for this show..still worth getting this one!! - April 18, 2005Vocal Phasing

Reviewer: capn doubledose - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 7, 2005

Subject: Mrng dew This is arguably one of the top three of the 80's and prob of all time in fact that whole back end out of space is phenomenal - This is an absolutely superlative performance. Bird song and aiko get the honorable mentions as well. - February 7, 2005Mrng dew

Reviewer: hampshirehead - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 17, 2005

Subject: magical sound awesome show...so glad i got it...great sound...i have only listened to it on my computer but i keep listening to it over and over again...the show has some kind of outspace sound to it through out the whole thing...must be that alpine valley thing...like the pocky way...lots of energy...one of the best shows i have picked from the archive...would not hesitate 1 bit, get this show, u will not be disappointed...i'm off to look for more alpine shows!!! enjoy !!! - January 17, 2005magical sound

Reviewer: dirty jev-o - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 21, 2004

Subject: sound good sound good----jerry would-----rock ass all night....crisp with not too much of the audience mics in this composite recording----plenty of bass...you can hear the kick drum for christ's sake!!! - November 21, 2004sound good

Reviewer: Albix714 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 15, 2004

Subject: Get it NOW!!! Run, don't walk to your nearest ftp client! Just get the mp3 of The Dew to get a taste and you'll see what I mean. - November 15, 2004Get it NOW!!!

Reviewer: djkrik - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 7, 2004

Subject: magical show the dew smoked jerry was stoked the boys were the supreme host they came with there game faces on you wont be disapointed in this show love alpine valley a magical place the dead seam to like this place - October 7, 2004magical show

Reviewer: harold920 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 21, 2004

Subject: music to be healed by While I was at the show, I had found out that my young cousin had taken her own life. I went in to the show with lots of grief. With the help of friends and the music, it had helped me cope with the loss. This show reminds me of the healing property that the music has. Thanks for the Blackbird! - September 21, 2004music to be healed by

Reviewer: Leverkit - favorite favorite - September 17, 2004

Subject: Drag? I downloaded this with high hopes from the other reviews, there appaers to be a drag in the music from a recording in the past. Download the Blackbird and judge for yourself before doing the whole show. - September 17, 2004Drag?

Reviewer: Vaughn - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 10, 2004

Subject: It MUST Have Been The Roses!!! The whole show, from the first note to the last, was beautiful. I can't explain it, It MUST Have Been The Roses!!! Believe It Or Not!

I got down under the pavillion as All Along The Watchtower was going full throttle. They went into the very best Morning Dew I ever heard. I scared some guy when he asked me "what would be the encore"? I said "They are going to play a Beatles song"! "They are going to play Blackbird"! When they started it, he backed away from me. Syncronicity? I just knew they were going to break it out! I remember Bobby leaning against his amp when he lost it laughing on Blackbird. One of my all time favorites. It MUST Have Been The Roses... - September 10, 2004It MUST Have Been The Roses!!!

Reviewer: spoonful2 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 9, 2004

Subject: The girl and the Dew During the Dew, first a guy walked up on stage and stared bright-eyed at Jerry. Ramrod came and gently guided him off stage. Weird but it got weirder. Towards the end, Jerry is WAILING hard and a beautiful girl walks on stage. She goes to slowly touch Jerry on the shoulder, very gingerly. Def. like...is this God I'm touching type thing. Ramrod comes onstage and she sees him point, thinking it was to sit down. She just stared at Jerry and he is leaning back, looking down at her, digging in hard, with a big smile on his face. I do think there was something in the punch that day. Crazy Dew, best I ever saw. Best show of the 4, possible best show of that leg of the summer tour. - September 9, 2004The girl and the Dew

Reviewer: Jeffrey Flaws / UMR - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 6, 2004

Subject: I'm taking this one with me. My friends and family know that I'm to be buried with the second set tape from this show.

The pinnacle of the dust bowl tour ... HOT HOT HOT night and a wonderful run at Alpine.

Thank You, Jerry, for sharing the debut of Believe It Or Not.

This is the show I hear when I close my eyes and listen to the silence.

I always seemed to catch a "Women R Smarter" ... I thought I was to be disappointed when Iko made it's first set appearance. What a wonderful way to dry one's eyes coming out of Believe It, when Women popped up.

The Dew and Brokedown stand for themselves. The energy and emotion reflected the time, the space, and a whole bunch of happy people there that week. - September 6, 2004I'm taking this one with me.

Reviewer: madman420 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 19, 2004

Subject: sick after 6 days in Alpine {4 Dead / 1 Dylan} I would have to say this was a good way to go out - what can I say?

Hey Pocky Way / Believe It Or Not / BLACKBIRD - August 19, 2004sick