Rating: 
Summary: FREAKIN' AWESOME
Review: The dead are sick. I love the freakin Grateful Dead. This DVD is the best live footage i've seen of the dead and one of the best concerts I've ever heard. The Scarlet > Fire jam is insane as is the terrapin > Playin > devils > etc. The drum breakdown is awesome. Bill and Mickey rock. The entire third set is awesome too. Garcia goes nuts throught the whole concert and it is some of the finest playing I have heard from Jerry. Simply amazing. This DVD must be owned by everyone. I would give it 10 stars if I could. Go buy this now and you will love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Taking ya back 25 years...
Review: The closing of Winterland was a traumatic thing for alot of Deadheads back in 1978, and this was the final concert performed there on New Year's Eve 1978.This is my 7th Grateful Dead DVD that I have purchased and...musically speaking it ranks up there with any of the other 7...(the sound is great on this dvd) and hey, maybe for pure content it is the best bang for the buck. Lots of cool jammin going on here, and the concert lasts for over 4 hours. The video quality is not as good as the others (a bit dark) and as can be expected, because it was filmed in 1978. All the other Dead concerts on DVD are from 1987-1991, I believe. But all in all this is a great DVD to own, simply because the Grateful Dead are the... Grateful Dead. One can't help but to feel happy when listening to the music. I wish that more Dead DVD's would become available at a faster clip... It seems that they are putting out one a year or so. Anyway, the music will take ya away, and the extra bonus features on disc two are great. The 30 minute segment on the closing of Winterland includes old footage of interviews with Deadheads before the show and current day interviews with Bob Weir, Micky Hart and a long time member of the GD road crew... is really a nice segment. Also included in the bonus stuff is two of the songs the "Blues Brothers" did (an absolute riot, they were) in the opening act before Jerry and the boys took the stage. And, not to be forgotten, a piece of the action from New Riders of the Purple Sage, who were also a warm up act. If you are a true fan of the Grateful Dead, this is a must. To any casual fan of rock and roll fan or music historian, I would highly suggest you pick it up as well. It's R&R history... and some great music, to boot! Keep the Grateful Dead DVD's coming, its important to keep thier vibe alive... especially in a day where the comtemporary music scene doesn't have much too offer. The Grateful Dead were truly a unique phenomena, and the message that they articulated is one that should be still heard today. Rock on Jerry.
Rating:
Summary: "Ain't Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert Deadheads Unite"
Review: My title of "Ain't Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert" still rocks true..And this dvd is proof of that fact..Even though at this point i was still too young to see the Dead in concert..This is their famous concert to closedown The Winterland concert hall in San Franscisco CA..Started on New Years Eve Dec 31 1978 and went into New Years Day January 1 1979..Everything about this dvd makes it the Ultimate Rock DvD..Packaged perfect both inside and out..The extras are fantastic (one of them featuring new interviews with Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead..Bob Weir now looking somewhat like Jerry Garcia)..There are a butch of extras..More then what you find on other rock dvds by other bands..Thats the Grateful Dead for ya they always deliver as any fan/DeadHead can tell ya'..Even has in the extras as well from that night as shown locally in San Fran interview with Bob Weir and Mickey Hart at 2 am during the first break..And even the opening acts from that night are at home in these extras are performances by Blues Brothers / New Riders of the Purple Sage (that features brother of Ricky Nelson David Nelson who almost had the Weir spot in the Dead as Weir tells on the one extra)..The NROPS footage had to be intertwined with photos of the band with very little of what survives of their performance that night..Shows how important film preservation is..Among other great and insightfuLL extras that are sure to please..And of course there is the music..You get 3 sets from that night of the great Grateful Dead..Here are my personal favs from this remarkable DVD.."Sugar Magnolia" (one of the songs of my beloved Mandy and I since we met) / Big River (Johnny Cash Remake) / Friend Of The Devil (in my opinion it sounds better like this slow) / Its All Over Now (a Rolling Stones Remake) / Stagger Lee (she shot him in the .....) / From The Heart Of Me (Magickally sung by Donna Godchaux) / Samson & Delilah /
Ramble On Rose / Around and Around (ROCKS!!!!!) / Dark Star *The Other One* (their first SF Dark Star in over 4 years) and the rest of Set 3 i won't list it all to save space is ALL favs of mine..It includes Casey Jones and very ROCKED up version of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode..Needless to say ALL the selections are GREAT from start to finish..The actual ending the video doesn't survive so it is shown through pictures of that night doing the song "we bid you goodnight" (with the lyric that preachers i heard complain about rock and the Grateful Dead should hear and pull out "I Love You But Jesus Loves You Best" that's evil rock music huh??)..Also on this dvd watch for "Rhythm Devils" an all out double drum assault with some other guests and suprises that almost closes in on 20 minutes..It gets weird in spots but think how it had to have sounded surrounding you at Winterland that night 25 so years ago..If you loves drums or a drummer or even thinking of being a drummer take my word you can't afford to miss this..I can only hope that the CLASSIC Grateful Dead videos will foLLow sOOnly On DVD "The Grateful Dead Movie" and our first actual Grateful Dead concert ever "Dead Ahead" yes we were there in Radio City Music HaLL In NYC)..And how about the legendary concert in Egypt by the PyramidS that was just before this concert to close Winterland..PLEASE RELEASE THEM ON DVD DEADHEADS UNITE DEMAND CLASSIC DEAD ON DVD THEN BUY FROM AMAZON.COM!!!!! Lastly i say that if you been a Deadhead for years you can't miss this dvd..If you are new or want to be introduced to the Grateful Dead you can start here to witness their greatness..What a show this was..Long Live "Uncle Jerry" and memories of the One the ONLY GRATEFUL DEAD ROCK ON!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Take my advice you'd be better off Dead....
Review: I've been a peripheral Dead enthusiast since the beginning. Never a huge fan, but appreciative just the same. Of course, a lot of my associates were, and maybe that's what made me sort of avoid really taking a look; I never like to be talked into things. Anyway, that being said, I decided to pick up my first Dick's Pick CD a few months back (Englishtown '77) on a whim, and I have been hypnotized by Jerry and the gang ever since. This is an amazing amazing band. And this DVD really captures a moment. Sure, the video is soft (these are vintage tube cameras circa '78), and the graphics are cheesy (all they had in those days was a simple character generator, so all live graphics were seat-of-the-pants) but the remixed sound is astonishing. The extras are lovingly put together. I've had the opportunity to meet the late Bill Graham on a couple of occasions in the 80's and to see his interviews included were like visiting with your favorite an old grumpy uncle. The stoned-out 2AM interviews with Weir, Hart, and KEN KESEY are a hoot. And then there's the music. What can I can say that hasn't already been said? Pure Joy. Do yourself a favor and order this DVD. It's very affordable and extremely satisfying. In fact, if I could, I'd give it 10 (dark) stars. Peace
Ed (and I'm not even a Dead Head!) Kaz (...)
Rating:
Summary: applaud GDP for creating with what they had to work with
Review: As a tape trader, I can tell you this show is in the top ten most requested of all in the Dead's performance catalog. After reading some of the critiques posted, I need to defend Grateful Dead Productions for doing with what they had to work with. I feel the package they put together is WORTH YOUR MONEY. Why? For starters: this is video of one of the top ten Dead shows of all time. The music speaks for itself. The video is a clean feed of the KQED broadcast from that night. David Lemieux talked about the work that went into fixing up the original tapes on an interview you'll find here. (hint: working with 1978 video technology isn't easy)
Two, there's a very good documentary piece on the history of Winterland itself, one of rock n roll's epic venues (Frampton Comes Alive was recorded here, also the site of the Sex Pistols Last Concert)
Third: never before seen footage of The Blues Brothers (the opening act)
Fourth: interviews with Mickey Hart, Bob Weir, and Steve Parish (Garcia's roadie) on their reflections of that night.
Fifth: any GD Tape trader will tell you that there's no circulating copy of "And We Bid You Goodnight" from this show, until now.
If you need any more reasons, you don't appreciate rock history, or you're just too picky a DeadHead.
Rating:
Summary: It's almost too much...
Review: A great show, fantastic hippie-dippie sorta groove, excellent sound quality. Watch the disc and (to me, anyway) it becomes abundantly clear just how much the GD were Jerry's band. I don't know who proposed those stages of greving, but I'm still stuck in the Anger phase... Seeing and hearing the Dead like that (especially when you turn the stereo WAY up) can get a bit intense, and I get pretty miffed at Jerry for being Dead. Be prepared to move the furniture - you'll need some room to dance!!
Rating:
Summary: FREAKIN' AWESOME
Review: The dead are sick. I love the freakin Grateful Dead. This DVD is the best live footage i've seen of the dead and one of the best concerts I've ever heard. The Scarlet > Fire jam is insane as is the terrapin > Playin > devils > etc. The drum breakdown is awesome. Bill and Mickey rock. The entire third set is awesome too. Garcia goes nuts throught the whole concert and it is some of the finest playing I have heard from Jerry. Simply amazing. This DVD must be owned by everyone. I would give it 10 stars if I could. Go buy this now and you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: Some of the best Dead available on DVD
Review: I have to admit that a lot of that night is just a blur for me. We had caught the shows in San Diego and at Pauley Pavilion, so by the time we got to Winterland we were pretty exhausted. I do remember getting the flu after this affair, too. Still, I have to say it was one of my peak experiences at a Dead show, and this music speaks for itself. The sound is really quite good considering the age of these tapes, and the engineers did a bang-up job on the 5.1. The only quibbles I have are with the cheesy, flashing "Happy New Year" that KQED splashed across the screen and other like travesties. Although somewhere Bill Graham says he couldn't have imagined a better audience for the last show there (I think I probably caught at least 30 shows there -- not all Dead), when I asked people around me if that was Kesey up there on the stage (I was about 2/3 of the way back, down on the floor), I just got bewildered looks. Breakfast? It wasn't all that great, and it took ages to get your food. But I wasn't there for the food, of course.
Rating:
Summary: Capturing a milestone marker in rock 'n' roll history
Review: Grateful Dead: The Closing Of Winterland is a DVD capturing a milestone marker in rock 'n' roll history, when the world famous Winterland Arena closed on December 31, 1978 after featuring a final blowout performance by the Grateful Dead. The heady music is enhanced with exclusive interviews, blues brothers band songs (including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Paul Shaffer), archival interviews from 1978, a Winterland documentary film, and a great deal more make for an extravaganza which is highly recommended for anyone who thrills to the groundbreaking rhythms of the day.
Rating:
Summary: "Ain't Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert Deadheads Unite"
Review: My title of "Ain't Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert" still rocks true..And this dvd is proof of that fact..Even though at this point i was still too young to see the Dead in concert..This is their famous concert to closedown The Winterland concert hall in San Franscisco CA..Started on New Years Eve Dec 31 1978 and went into New Years Day January 1 1979..Everything about this dvd makes it the Ultimate Rock DvD..Packaged perfect both inside and out..The extras are fantastic (one of them featuring new interviews with Bob Weir and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead..Bob Weir now looking somewhat like Jerry Garcia)..There are a butch of extras..More then what you find on other rock dvds by other bands..Thats the Grateful Dead for ya they always deliver as any fan/DeadHead can tell ya'..Even has in the extras as well from that night as shown locally in San Fran interview with Bob Weir and Mickey Hart at 2 am during the first break..And even the opening acts from that night are at home in these extras are performances by Blues Brothers / New Riders of the Purple Sage (that features brother of Ricky Nelson David Nelson who almost had the Weir spot in the Dead as Weir tells on the one extra)..The NROPS footage had to be intertwined with photos of the band with very little of what survives of their performance that night..Shows how important film preservation is..Among other great and insightfuLL extras that are sure to please..And of course there is the music..You get 3 sets from that night of the great Grateful Dead..Here are my personal favs from this remarkable DVD.."Sugar Magnolia" (one of the songs of my beloved Mandy and I since we met) / Big River (Johnny Cash Remake) / Friend Of The Devil (in my opinion it sounds better like this slow) / Its All Over Now (a Rolling Stones Remake) / Stagger Lee (she shot him in the .....) / From The Heart Of Me (Magickally sung by Donna Godchaux) / Samson & Delilah /
Ramble On Rose / Around and Around (ROCKS!!!!!) / Dark Star *The Other One* (their first SF Dark Star in over 4 years) and the rest of Set 3 i won't list it all to save space is ALL favs of mine..It includes Casey Jones and very ROCKED up version of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode..Needless to say ALL the selections are GREAT from start to finish..The actual ending the video doesn't survive so it is shown through pictures of that night doing the song "we bid you goodnight" (with the lyric that preachers i heard complain about rock and the Grateful Dead should hear and pull out "I Love You But Jesus Loves You Best" that's evil rock music huh??)..Also on this dvd watch for "Rhythm Devils" an all out double drum assault with some other guests and suprises that almost closes in on 20 minutes..It gets weird in spots but think how it had to have sounded surrounding you at Winterland that night 25 so years ago..If you loves drums or a drummer or even thinking of being a drummer take my word you can't afford to miss this..I can only hope that the CLASSIC Grateful Dead videos will foLLow sOOnly On DVD "The Grateful Dead Movie" and our first actual Grateful Dead concert ever "Dead Ahead" yes we were there in Radio City Music HaLL In NYC)..And how about the legendary concert in Egypt by the PyramidS that was just before this concert to close Winterland..PLEASE RELEASE THEM ON DVD DEADHEADS UNITE DEMAND CLASSIC DEAD ON DVD THEN BUY FROM AMAZON.COM!!!!! Lastly i say that if you been a Deadhead for years you can't miss this dvd..If you are new or want to be introduced to the Grateful Dead you can start here to witness their greatness..What a show this was..Long Live "Uncle Jerry" and memories of the One the ONLY GRATEFUL DEAD ROCK ON!!!!!!!
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