favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

At the end of a stunning "Deal" Bobby steps to the mike and exhales heavily, "We quit. See ya later!" This may give you an idea about how radically mindblowing this particular version of Deal was. I had never heard the GD repeat the hook line at the end of a song so many times. It must be some sort of all time record in the annals of pop music. I guess.



But all guessing aside this entire show is, as they say in the modern day vernacular, AWE$$OME. Almost every song is right on the money. From the opening chords of Bertha you can hear Jerry's rich and frothy tone. I just love it!!!!



Late 77, early 78 is my favorite era. Jerry had his squawky Wolf growl. Rrrrrowwwwrrrr! To my mind that guitar was like a hybrid cross between a Strat and a Les Paul. Coupled with the fact that Garcia had just gotten it back from the luthier in November -- all souped-up. This era featured a stoked Jerry and I believe that his Wolf may have had something to do with it. I had never heard anything like it up until then, nor have I ever heard anything like it since. People rave about the Spring of 1977 -- and it was a great time and all, and the Travis Bean was a hot guitar, but, for me, nothing compares in tone to his newly refurbished Wolf. Sadly, once he began using his Tiger exclusively (in 1979) it just didn't emit the same flare. IMHO.



I'm no longer a big fan of NFA and Sugar Mags but these versions are rocking exceptional. Listen to Jerry's intro chords alla Bo Diddley on NFA. It sounded like they were moving into "Mona" -- a song the GD played a few times a long time ago. Sugar Mags is over the top.



Then, of course, is the raging Wharf Rat. 'Nuff said.

- July 5, 2019"We Quit. See Ya Later"