Fans of the Grateful Dead have their favourite songs or favorite shows. Many have their favorite years, and for them, 1977 often stands out. The band had left behind their cosmic, psychedelic shows of the 60s, and were putting together more crafted sets that mixed songs from their growing repertoire of folk, country, blues and rock music.

By the time they reached Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, on Sept. 3, they had finished one of their most successful tours and played what many fans consider the best Dead show, ever, Barton Hall at Cornell University, on May 8, 1977.

At Raceway Park, 100,000 fans showed up to soak up the heat and the Grateful Dead.