The Music Never Stopped, Loser, CC Rider-> Cumberland Blues, Cassidy, Ramble On Rose, My Brother Esau, Big Railroad Blues-> Promised Land Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain, Uncle John's Band-> Playin' In The Band-> Drums-> Truckin'-> Wharf Rat-> I Need A Miracle-> Touch Of Gray, E: Johnny B. Goode

SBD>>PCM>>Dat>>CDR>>SHN>>DAW(Bertha)>>CDA/SHN



There is another Bertha Remaster of 10/21/83. That version was done with the source that had a cassette gen in the lineage. This version has no cassette gen.

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Reviewer: halfofwhatyathoughtyouhad - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 7, 2019

Subject: Great Show GREAT SBD Fall 83' just keeps on giving! I only wish all of the east coast fall 83 shows sounded this good! But what a show it is. TMNS,Big RR Blues,Cumberland,Scarlet Fire. I am amazed after so many other great shows before this they still had MORE to give. I mean wow! The boy's in 83 were on fire!! - July 7, 2019Great Show GREAT SBD

Reviewer: mcgrupp216 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 22, 2019

Subject: 18th Trip Around the Sun Super crisp SBD makes for must-listen 83 Dead. Can't help but compare with the other two official GD releases from the same year, Dick's 6 (10/14 Hartford) and Dave's 27 (9/2 Santa Fe). Some, but actually not much, song overlap. Biggest thing that stands out is the late first set Big Railroad Blues and second set opener Scarlet-Fire. All are excellent versions, no question, but these from Worcester might even be best. It's a high-energy show from start to finish, from the Music Never Stopped opener to the Touch of Grey closer and Johnny B. Goode encore. I just love this "rootless album-free period" of the Dead's history (Jarnow liner notes). One such example of this, an excellent choice for the 30 trips definitive live story, is My Brother Esau. - January 22, 201918th Trip Around the Sun

Reviewer: kbmill - - August 24, 2016

Subject: bread crumb The only Scarlet > Fire > Uncle John's ever played. - August 24, 2016bread crumb

Reviewer: Oaklandheadz - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 16, 2016

Subject: Exceptional Anyone that says this show is underrated must be listening to something different than I.



Explosive energy from beginning to end. Hardcore heads that are willing to give the 80s a chance will be rewarded with gem after gem, starting with the less likely extended "Music" opener. Yes The Cumberland and Big Railroad are fantastic.



The Scarlet -> Fire takes off. Stronger than MSG 81' or Fox 80'. When folks talk about the X factor, the East Coast brought it out of them. As Phil recently said at a Terrapin Tribute show to 1991, regarding New York and East Coast in general: They demanded it out of us!



When listening to mid 80s shows, it seems as if it's the same trend in 83-85 that the shows just get better and better as the year goes on (Spring/Summer 85' is equally awesome) but especially in 83'. They had worked out the then newer songs and were back on the path toward exploring and experimenting with new effects and tones.



Love it. I met some Heads at Terrapin who saw hundreds of shows in the late 70s/80s/90s and said this show AND Springfield March 85' (Bird Song + Let it Grow) were the best they ever saw. Hard to argue.



If the Centrum was characterless, atleast the music usually rocked. - August 16, 2016Exceptional

Reviewer: kee-zeee - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 1, 2015

Subject: It's a rainbow full of sound Great SBD..this is the sound that hooked me and reeled me in~~! I find comfort when I listen to a good early 80s show that captures the magic and fills my head with it..It's like going home and there's no place like home~!! A great show from start to finish and I'm reminded that..The more my brother looks like me~> The less I understand>>>>>> Give It A Whirl>Forever Grateful>Forever Dead - August 1, 2015It's a rainbow full of sound

Reviewer: Mooding - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 22, 2014

Subject: No mention of the Space For about two minutes beginning at 10:42, Weir flirts pretty hard with Sage & Spirit. It becomes very apparent after about a minute. I was working listening to it and stopped 3 times, backed it up (did I really just hear that?). Still new surprises after 30 years of listening, I love that. - October 22, 2014No mention of the Space

Reviewer: doug_the_dude - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 22, 2012

Subject: -- October '83 just keeps on giving. People have pointed out the crystal-diamond quality of this recording, and it is indeed a thing of beauty.



Set 1 - highlights here are Cumberland, Cassidy, and Rig RxR. They even jam out Promised Land a bit longer than usual! Not an altogether dynamite first set, but everything is played very nicely.



Set 2 - ah, here are the goods. The Scarlet > Fire is everything everyone says it is, although played very loosely and nowhere as near as tight rhythmically as we're used to; Playin' holds its own, although probably won't ever get any accolades in the shadow of S>F.



The 'Sage and Spirit Space' here is more of those beautiful Jerry and Bobby only jams they experimented with a lot during this period. It's lithe, lovely, lilting, just a fragile cascade and interplay between the Master and the Apprentice that goes on for damn near 15 minutes - do take this in.



Post-space is no slouch, either - Truckin' has Jane getting her frontal lobes rearranged, and they end the suite with another one of those early renditions of Touch - even without the voodoo context of Jerry's coma these versions are almost preferred.



Another great offering from this period; my favorite show from October '83 has to be 10/15, but this one absolutely is worth it. - October 22, 2012--

Reviewer: highgreenchile - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 16, 2011

Subject: Check out Bobby's Sage and Spirit at about 9:19 during Space They take their time and do it right. - February 16, 2011Check out Bobby's Sage and Spirit at about 9:19 during Space

Reviewer: John Bouffard - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 6, 2010

Subject: Keep on dancin to the daylight grate stuff from the boys here. I agree with bigdizzy 100%. The Grateful Dead will never be matched in their charity and love for their fans thanks for the free music and some of the best times of my life.



One of the best Esau's - September 6, 2010Keep on dancin to the daylight

Reviewer: BIG_R - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 31, 2010

Subject: 10-21-83 Nice show. Great sound quality thanks to Jay Ashley. - March 31, 201010-21-83

Reviewer: ShannonsGun - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 2, 2008

Subject: Very Hot 2nd Set! Very, very nice scar>fire, UJB, Playin', hell it's all good! Nice original into into Truckin-- Jerry noodling around with the Truckin' notes and placing them just a little bit different. Classic to hear the master at work with his crew and his tools!



A BIG shout-out thanks again to Gordon Sharpless for another priceless contribution. Keep pushing the Peace my brother!!

Peace to All

SG - January 2, 2008Very Hot 2nd Set!

Reviewer: Evan S. Hunt - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2007

Subject: At First Ho Hum, But Then Ahh-ruum! I be saying to myself, ho hum. It was good and all, but everything was not yet in place.



Then the second set came on with an uproarious Scar>F that was intensely beautiful, but then UJB>PITB and the whole thing just exploded, you know? I don't know what happened to the sound ~ it just, took off!



The kick drum is so outlandish that it may disturb some, but coupled with Phil's gorgeous one-note-at-a-time salvos stapled to that curious kick beat it is exteriorizing to the human spirit.



Drums>Truckin>Wharf>Miracle>Touch. Every note a captivation. Bobby and Brent featured prominently in the mix also and form a most perfect ensemble. Every note a delight and both drummers clearly present, right there.



Jerry, hearing this, goes ballistic and supplies all the finishing touches, coloring every lost strata of the spectrum of sound blowing through his giant blade of grass.



Every song of the second set sounds as if you heard them for the very first time.



This is a great great show, an unearthed gem, a pearl of pricelessness. - June 23, 2007At First Ho Hum, But Then Ahh-ruum!

Reviewer: alpine88 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 13, 2007

Subject: my brother esau just one of my favs - June 13, 2007my brother esau

Reviewer: DTSECOFR21 - favorite favorite favorite - March 17, 2007

Subject: Something... This was a decent enough show with not too bad of a setlist, but there was just always some energy missing at Centrum shows. - March 17, 2007Something...

Reviewer: gruUbic - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 28, 2006

Subject: cumberland heads unite CC > Cumberland...highly recommended...

love it - November 28, 2006cumberland heads unite

Reviewer: BigDizzy - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 15, 2006

Subject: '83 Dead consistently underrated Much like the populace at large many Deadheads like sounds they've heard before, feel comfortable with, and that have been verified by others as good music. Hence everybody LOVES 60's and 70's Dead and merely settles for 80's and 90's Dead. Dead from the 80's has the 70's beat in a few ways. First, Donna's gone. Second, the set lists are more variable and expansive. Third, Brent. The introduction of keyboard player, who is actually conscious during the shows is a wonderful addition to the Jerry heavy jams and sounds of the prior decade. Brent really starts adding new tones thereby creating an entirely different sound and tone to the music in the first time since the boys re-emerged in '75 post Blues For Allah. Listen to the Burling '83 Eyes. Clearly, I almost stroked out at first listen to the Cornell Dancin. But after listening to everything 60's and 70's exhaustively and exclusively, it's the refreshing sounds of 80's that are bringing me back home to GD. - November 15, 2006'83 Dead consistently underrated

Reviewer: brokencompass - favorite favorite favorite - October 14, 2006

Subject: Not as great as people think I too was at this show and disagree with some comments regarding this show. While I do agree that the sound recording is awesome, some comments need rebuttal. First off this is not some little out of the way arena. It is a big old concrete mess with lousy sound (Saw many concerts here). The Big River is OK but in no way, shape, or form comparable to the early 70's versions. Brent aping Garcia's lead lines ruins the song (for me). Also, that tinkly keyboard sound also hurts Cassidy, although the jam is good. There are better Scarlet/Fires from this era. Overall, good show...not great. Extra star for the fabulous recording, and effects they were using (particularly Jerry's vocals). - October 14, 2006Not as great as people think

Reviewer: VTRas - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 5, 2006

Subject: on the bus this too was my first show. nothing has been the same since. - August 5, 2006on the bus

Reviewer: Pastadon - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2006

Subject: wish I only wish I had DL'd when I had the chance - It's a must stream - enjoy! - maybe someone will post on the dime. - June 23, 2006wish

Reviewer: Soumac - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 7, 2005

Subject: Sentimental Favorite This was the first concert that I ever went to. My uncle took me, and it was one of the favorite nights of my teenage life. The fact that I can actually have an audio copy of this experience is what makes the internet and the ability to distribute music freely an absolute good.



Great sound quality, great show.



Amen. - November 7, 2005Sentimental Favorite

Reviewer: birdsgosouth - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 18, 2005

Subject: Big RxR throwaway?? I don't know, I guess it's all about when you saw shows - I saw 80 from 86 - 93 and only saw Big RxR once, maybe twice. - October 18, 2005Big RxR throwaway??

Reviewer: The Bopper - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 11, 2005

Subject: Cassidy - August 11, 2005Cassidy

Reviewer: The Bopper - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 11, 2005

Subject: Cassidy This version of Cassidy made me like this song again. Best one I've heard.



As Utopian said (and I always appreciate his taste for sound quality), this show sounds fantastic. And watch out for the bass. - August 11, 2005Cassidy

Reviewer: early 80's meltdown - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 7, 2005

Subject: Yea, This recording is sick. I agree wish more 83's were recorded this good. The Cumberland is smokin hot as is whole show. Killer venue might have something to do w/ it. early 80's meltdown -- June 7, 2005Yea,

Reviewer: herschelkrustofsky - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 11, 2004

Subject: great recording, great show This is the recording to get of this fine show. I tried the FOB aud. and it does not come close to standing up to this one.



While there are many highlights throughout, I will take an unusual step and focus this review on what is often a throw away (albeit fun and upbeat) 1st set tune:



BIG RAILROAD BLUES



This is the version that makes all others obsolete. If there is a better one, I haven't heard it. The song is a rollicking psychedelic stomp. The band locks in early and turns the two extended jams inside out. Jerry's playing is reminicent of the JGB shows from this era where he plays on and on, taking one interesting turn on the main musical idea after another. As is the case when things are going well, the band is right there with him to cajole, suggest, add and support to create what is a virtual playground of music complete with monkey bars, slides, swings, and those spinny things that can make you dizzy if you're not careful. I challenge you to not dance while listening to this song. It is not a bet you should take. - December 11, 2004great recording, great show

Reviewer: flashbackmagic - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 20, 2004

Subject: nice show great energy thru-out, and incredible sound! Too bad more dont sound like this! - October 20, 2004nice show

Reviewer: utopian - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 3, 2004

Subject: Holy F^#%&(*& S*^% Audiophiles hold onto you hats.



This is hands down one of the hottest recordings I have ever had in my collections of Dat, Analog, Wav's. I have the Silberman Fob Senn 441 on dat and it sounds great, but this sounds bloody fantanstic, it makes later sbds pale in comparison.



With lots of bottom end and a punchy mindrange and almost no hiss this thing should make us all scratch our heads as to why they all don't sound this good.



Great show as well. A tight drummer led band groove sets in from the get go. Jerry is along for the ride but the band as a whole is firing on all points.



robert



ps

Turn down the bass in loser

phil drops a couple fo big ones. - October 3, 2004Holy F^#%&(*& S*^%