Why Don't We Do It In The Road-> Bertha-> Jack Straw, West L.A. Fadeaway, Little Red Rooster, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Deal Terrapin Station-> Playin' In The Band-> Crazy Fingers-> Truckin'-> Drums-> The Wheel-> Throwing Stones-> One More Saturday Night-> E: It's All Over Now Baby Blue

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Reviewer: patnem2003 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 4, 2016

Subject: Jerry does it again In my top 3 Irvine shows 84 and Easter 87 are contenders.



Things start off with a maybe best Do it into a fine Bertha into my favorite Jack Straw that just melts my mind. My favorite Peggy-O that brings tears to my eyes with Jerry's so soulful playing. Terrapin 2nd set opener is epic and it just gets better as you enjoy the ride.



What's not to like! - September 4, 2016Jerry does it again

Reviewer: Chris U. - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 13, 2011

Subject: One of the best of the last year of the Grateful Dead For a long time I had a muddy sounding audience tape of this show ... but that tape was still great.



What was in the Dead's water in 1985? We may never know. They had some great new songs. And occasionally on the summer tour in 1985 they simply transcended themselves for entire concerts or close to it.



This isn't one of those shows with the "best Sugaree ever" or some other bogus descriptor. It's just well-played and inspired throughout, with a minimum amount of excessive cheese piled on.



Instead we hear a band where each member is listening to the whole. Brent, Jerry, Bobby and Phil are simply comfortable being The Grateful Dead and blowing minds. The question raised by couple of these 1985 shows is what the fxck was the band (and particularly the rhythm section) doing the previous 10 years??



Does Jerry give a darn that he can't remember the words to half the songs? I'm not sure it matters. Can his fingers keep up with his cocaine-fueled musical thoughts? Barely. But it's more than enough.



And after 1985 you'd never hear anything remotely like this show again.



Peggy O. Cassidy. Deal. Crazy Fingers. Terrapin (Brent cracks me up with his little vamp during the outro).



And a truly sick Space!



I love this show.



I just noticed this comment: "Interestingly enough, my friend was really impressed by ol' Brent - he crept right down to the stage to watch him up close."



Honestly, this may be one of the best shows in the band's history to make such a pilgrimage.



Beware the Space, which is a real-time simulation of your immortal soul being destroyed in a trash compactor.



For all you Bobby fans out there (I KNOW WHO YOU ARE) I must also add that this is a Deal for the ages. For better or worse, Bob totally pwnes Jer by the end of the last instrumental jam section, and in the process defines the Grateful Dead during this final year of the Dead's existence of a band operating on its own terms. - March 13, 2011One of the best of the last year of the Grateful Dead

Reviewer: corby112 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 2, 2010

Subject: Nice '85 show Yet another solid '85 show that features a brief yet well played first set and longer solid second set that features some extended jamming.



The Do It in the Road that opens the show is well played but just kind of boring. It must have been fun if you were there but doesn't translate well here. They seem more comfortable with the Bertha that comes next. It's played at a medium pace and features good vocals from Jerry(a huge improvement from the dreadful Spectrum shows that preceded this run). The harmonies in Jack Straw are well delivered and there is an intense jam with great leads from Garcia. West L.A. is very laid back but again well played, one of the highlights from the set. The Red Rooster doesn't really go anywhere and features some feeble slide work from Bobby. Jerry's solo is nice but overall not the best version I've heard. Peggy-O slows things down again but Cassidy>Deal that closes the set is a barn burner featuring great group improv and fiery leads from Garcia. Pretty good so far.



The pre Drums portion of the second set is the highlight of the show and features some really nice jamming and song selection. The Terrapin that starts the set starts off awkwardly but soon builds up steam. Jerry's vocals are a bit rough but passable. This segues into a very nice Playin' that features some dark, jazzy jamming. The jam goes on for a while and then Jerry breaks into an Crazy Fingers. This segues into an intense Truckin' that has a nice outro jam before fading to Drums. Post Space is brief but features an odd Throwing Stones>Saturday Night. Throwing Stones is well played and Bobby is singing passionately when Jerry abruptly cuts him off and launches into Saturday Night to close the show. You should get this show and listen to the Crazy Fingers repeatedly. - August 2, 2010Nice '85 show

Reviewer: adcinboston - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 2, 2007

Subject: Does anybody know how to fix the Terrapin A great show from one of my favorite years, but I was bummed to find that the first bit of Terrapin is cut. Does anybody know how to alert the powers that be to see if there's something that can be done about it?



Smile, smile, smile.... - April 2, 2007Does anybody know how to fix the Terrapin

Reviewer: roebuck - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 22, 2006

Subject: A great first show... ... no, not for me (I'd been to at least 30 shows by then), but for a buddy of mine who didn't really know much about the Dead. We got our tickets, and then he wanted me to play him every album (that would be vinyl :-) and tape that I had so he'd somewhat know the tunes.



Well, what can I say, a Deadhead was born that night! Everything was just right, or as just right as it could be in the mid-80's. The parking lot scene was classic, we had great seats, great music-enhancement materials, the band was ON, and so were we. Interestingly enough, my friend was really impressed by ol' Brent - he crept right down to the stage to watch him up close.



All in all, a show that I'll always remember...



- roebuck - October 22, 2006A great first show...

Reviewer: smoothcat - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 1, 2006

Subject: LA was buzzing for the band this night I remember it well, even if I did take it in from the infamous lawn.



The opening 3 songs were terrific, the show was high intensity throughout, if a little short by the standards of time.



The energy at the LA shows from say 1984-1988 was unreal. Unfortunately, crowd behavior was also an issue!! Not that I am innocent by any means myself.... - October 1, 2006LA was buzzing for the band this night

Reviewer: andy fidelman - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 7, 2006

Subject: 1985 It is a shame Jerry's voice and memory were so shot out because 1985 was by far one of the best "sounding" years of the boys' illustrious run. What Jerry lacked in voice, he made up 100 fold in his playing. Phil could not have been more on and the crispness and intensity of shows like this only back that up. Most of the year was released on SDBD and that was a huge part of my Maxell XLIIs collection several years back. I love listening and listening loud. "If it's worth playing, it's worth playing loud!"-- mickey hart - June 7, 20061985

Reviewer: David Bolewski - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 24, 2006

Subject: Just hum us the song Jer!!! I cant find a fault in These shows. All Jer has to do is hum the tune. My Dad saw Frank Sinatra during his last tour and his voice was not what is used to be. Missing notes and whatnot but his band was impecable and someone in the audience yells 'Just hum the song Frank!'and everybody cheered. P.S. Saw the Stones last night in Chicago. WOW! - January 24, 2006Just hum us the song Jer!!!

Reviewer: catfishjon - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 15, 2005

Subject: Excellent 2nd Set This is worth the drive space...the audience tape i have of this show has a Gloria jam at the end as an encore....??? - November 15, 2005Excellent 2nd Set

Reviewer: catfishjon - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 15, 2005

Subject: Excellent 2nd Set This is worth the drive space...the audience tape i have of this show has a Gloria jam at the end as an encore....??? - November 15, 2005Excellent 2nd Set

Reviewer: johnknee - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 25, 2005

Subject: the Terrapin I love this show. This copy is great. Unfortunately no one noted that the front of Terrapin is cut. I downloaded the track twice just to check it out. A bummer, but beyond those few seconds (it is just a few) all is well. - October 25, 2005the Terrapin

Reviewer: johnknee - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 25, 2005

Subject: the Terrapin I love this show. This copy is great. Unfortunately no one noted that the front of Terrapin is cut. I downloaded the track twice just to check it out. A bummer, but beyond those few seconds (it is just a few) all is well. - October 25, 2005the Terrapin

Reviewer: Chester Burnett - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2005

Subject: Let's Do It In The Road The band sounds awesome on the opening number. The overall sounds here is also pretty good if you don't mind the occassional jolt of static. Pretty good for 85 I think. - September 8, 2005Let's Do It In The Road

Reviewer: jlucas611 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 27, 2005

Subject: Jerry's voice shot, but sweet show Jer not in top vocal form, especially when he continually forgot lyrics to Crazy Fingers. Had to get this show since I was there; glad I did. Aside from Jerry's voice cracking this is an awesome show. 2nd set songlist hard to beat for this period. Sound quality outstanding, a brief glitch here and there doesn't detract. Get it. - March 27, 2005Jerry's voice shot, but sweet show