4/7/85 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

First Set: Why Don't We Do It In The Road > Mississippi

Half-Step Uptown Toodle-oo > CC Rider, Bird Song, Dancin'

In The Streets, Deal.

Second Set: Shakedown Street > Samson and Delilah, She

Belongs To Me > Man Smart, Woman Smarter > Drums > Space >

Gimme Some Lovin', Truckin' > Smokestack Lightning >

Morning Dew > Sugar Magnolia.

Encore: Keep Your Day Job.

Source: SBD, Quality : A, Length 2:10 Genealogy: M > C >

circulation.

Comments: Easter Sunday.

Text: First set: The typical 1985 Grateful Dead

show can be characterized by three things: energy, inspired

song selection and truly abrasive vocals by Jerry. All

three were abundant in Philly. The latter helped to mar the

mostly disappointing (except for an epic Other One) first

night. Perhaps that's why Phil felt it necessary to add his

voice to four of this set's six songs. More likely it was

that ol' '85 energy using him as a host organism. Lucky for

us, he wasn't the only one infected; this set rocks. It

lasts barely 40 minutes, but with Jerry singing better and

the novelty of Why Don't We Do It In The Road, Half-Step

and Dancin', nobody felt ripped-off. In fact, I was

relieved when Deal ended. Only then did some of the 'heads

causing gridlock in the aisles back off and allow me to get

rid of the coffee I'd been drinking to fight off the wet

and cold of the pre-show parking lot.

Second set: Why am I writing about the toilet?

Because this was the run where the Men's rooms were

littered with LSD surveys (how much have you taken? have

you had a flashback? etc.). The Spectrum was so crowded it

took virtually the entire intermission for me to elbow my

way back to the same square inch of floorspace that I

occupied during the first set. However, my discomfort was

forgotten as I witnessed Another Quality Set. Bob's tunes

and Gimme Some Lovin' maintained the high energy of the

first set. Even Morning Dew seemed to rock. Yet the

highlight was the set's only slow tune. Although impossible

to improve upon Thursday's breakout of She Belongs To Me,

tonight's version was not noticeably inferior.

By Joshua A. Solomon.

4/8/85 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

First Set: (In the) Midnight Hour > Walkin' the Dog > Big

Boss Man, Me and My Uncle > Cumberland Blues, Down in the

Bottom/Ain't Superstitious, Althea, Tons of Steel >

Supplication Jam > Might As Well.

Second Set: Revolution, Hell in a Bucket > Touch of Gray,

Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Drums > Space >

Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad > Stella Blue > Around and

Around > Turn On Your Lovelight.

Encore: Brokedown Palace.

Source: SBD, Quality : A, Length 2:20 Genealogy: M > C >

circulation.

Comments: None.

Text: First set: It's good to have a tape of the last

(4/7/85 II) set. It's essential to have a tape of this one.

Onstage energy is palpable and the setlist speaks for

itself. I like to begin friends' tapes of this set with the

last few seconds of the previous night's encore. There are

two reasons. The first is that they get Bob's "Good night

and thank you, Jesus." The second is that along with energy

and inspired song selection, Jerry's abrasive vocals return

in force. If the tape begins with the end of Day Job, then

Might As Well--a truly painful listening experience--gets

cut!

Second set: It's a testament to the first set

that, despite the mediocrity of the second, this is the

most exciting show I saw in '85. (No, I didn't go to

Richmond.) The inspired song selection is still there

(Revolution, Bucket > Touch), but the energy's gone and for

that matter, so is Jerry's voice. #2 highlight of the set:

Bob attempting to kick a beachball during Estimated and

falling on his ass. You can hear everybody laugh on

audience tapes, but crisp soundboards are pretty easy to

find. The #1 highlight of the set is the totally unique

introduction to GDTRFB. Put this on the other side of the

first set and there's still enough room for all of 4/7/85

By Joshua A. Solomon.