Duke '78 [4LP]

"When the Grateful Dead arrived at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the sixth stop of the first leg of the Spring Tour of 1978, they were a well-oiled machine. The expectation was there amongst concert goers that the Dead would deliver an exceptional show; the consistency of excellence was in full force on this tour. And as great as the previous five shows had been, no one could have known that the X-factor would appear in such force at Duke on April 12, 1978. Opening with a pair of classics, “Jack Straw” and “Dire Wolf,” it was clear from the first 10 minutes of the show that something special was happening. But what was to come couldn't have been predicted; no one could have seen what the next three hours would hold. As the Dead barreled through their first set with "Beat It On Down The Line," and "Peggy-O,"" there was something magical happening on the campus in Durham, NC that night. The Dead, as everyone in the building that night could hear, were determined to play one of their best shows ever at Duke. Ending their first set with exemplary versions of "Loser,"  "Lazy Lightning > Supplication," the second set began without missing a beat, rocking hard with "Bertha > Good Lovin'." As perfectly executed as ever played "Estimated Prophet>Eyes Of The World" led into one of the Dead's longest, most intense, and most exciting "Rhythm Devils" drum interludes, clocking in at more than 20 minutes. And the only way to beat that? One of the most powerful live versions of "Truckin'" the Grateful Dead ever played, unlike any other rendition of their "big hit." A spectacularly beautiful, perfectly executed "Wharf Rat" leads into more rock 'n' roll, "Around and Around," to end one of the most satisfying shows the Dead had played in the last several years. As an encore, the Dead put the cherry on the cake with a "U.S. Blues" that has Jerry joyously screaming the chorus. The Dead left it all on the stage on April 12, 1978. Thankfully they had the next night off. " - David Lemieux