The Grateful Dead - Downhill From Here

Rating:
Summary: What a Great Compilation!
Review: All you can do is smile smile smile.....This weekend was great and well captured. Being someone who is quite picky about my shows and the quality, this has it all. Sound, Picture, Expressions from the boys. If you are new to the Dead take a seat and pop this in and get ready to smile. Cause it's beautiful

Rating:
Summary: the closest yet to being there...
Review: Although I agree with other reviewers that this is not the show (or group of songs from a series of shows) that I would choose to put out, this DVD made me feel closer to being back there than anything I've yet seen. The recording quality is excellent, the camera angles are great, it's a good show. I saw 200+ shows (including all of Alpine 89), and in my opinion this is an opportunity to re-visit what was basically the peak of the last era of the Dead - tour and the band really did begin to go downhill from there. Watching Jerry animated, dancing, laughing and having fun gave me goosebumps, and while West LA Fadeaway was never my very favorite song, watching Jerry bright-eyed and strong-voiced singing "...a lovely view of heaven - but I'd rather be with you..." had me in tears. If you were there (as so many were,) and you got it (as not quite so many did,) then believe me - you want this DVD and a quality system to play it on.

Rating:
Summary: A great show and video, particularly the second set!
Review: Although it takes a few songs for things to warm up, by the end of the first set it is obvious this is a great show. I beg to differ with the title of this video: this was not the last of the great Greatful Dead shows... several early nineties shows were stonger, but this is a fine performance regardless.

Rating:
Summary: The best we've got
Review: Any Deadhead can quibble over song selection, and present a wish list of what might have been, but the unmistakable fact is, unless somebody opens up the video vault, this is the best (almost complete) live Dead performance we have. As another viewer correctly states, there are three songs from the last show substituted at the end of the first set, but I happen to find their presence very valuable. "Desolation Row" is a nice understated version, with chilling harmony from Jerry near the end, and I found the "West L.A." to be a fiery performance to rank near the best. My only quibble (well, a Deadhead has to quibble!) is not enought Primal Dead. "The Other One" would have been nice! Great stuff, though, and beautiful sound and camera work.

Rating:
Summary: Visible Lyrics!
Review: Being a deafhead, adding the visible lyrics onto the DVD video is the best thing that has ever happened. I finally can sing along with them in sign language while the stereo's blaring. I hope that they will do the same for Grateful Dead the Movie! That Would Be Something!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Understand Deadheads? Watch This Brent Show.
Review: For me, this is what the Dead were all about. This excellent release kicks off in high gear with 'Let The Goodtimes Roll' and keeps the vibe thoughout. Outstanding versions of Deal, Rider, Uncle, and others. Jerry is in great form, and having a great time. His solo during Deal burns the crowd up! Brent is outstanding as usual. What a great band.

Rating:
Summary: Get in the Groove !
Review: Great quality, excellent song selection, and gives those watching the experience of being there. This was my first Grateful Dead show, and what a great show this is. From the fun Let the Good Times Roll, to the jams of China/Rider and Not Fade Away, to the spacey Uncle John's Band and Wheel, this show has it all. They had not played "Bid You Goodnight" for the 10 years prior to this show. Watch for the smiles from Jerry !

Rating:
Summary: A moment Frozen in Time!!!
Review: Having been at this show I must say having this DVD is a blessing. I recalled it as one of the best of the hundreds of Dead shows I've seen and this DVD proves me correct!!! The energy that night was incredible and the DVD captures it very well. When they did We bid you Goodnight I thought the place was going to explode and I know we screamed until they came back out for Johnny B. Goode during which I thought Jerry was going DuckWalk!!!! Great Performance and great DVD!!

Rating:
Summary: These were my first shows....
Review: Having been young and experiencing the Grateful Dead for the first time at these Alpine Valley shows was a life changing experience. Watching the DVD brings back memories of the endless mud pit that we boogied in, the clouds of smoke, sliding down the giant mud covered hills on our butts, and the parking lot vendors. There are many good points of the DVD, including the scrolling lyrics (I learned I have been singing the wrong lyrics for years)were very helpful and fun. This video brings back memories of a time when things were easier, there were less cares, and the good times certainly did roll. This is a video only a true fan would appreciate, but is worth the purchase if you want to relive something great, if only for a few moments. It also serves as great background music for cleaning the house and cooking dinner.

Rating:
Summary: This Will Be On All Available Dead Videos
Review: I guess there are 2 types of fans of the Grateful Dead: Deadheads (really diehard types that would enjoy the video even if the quality was at a half a star, and the Dead were having an off night). Then there are non-Deadheads (casual fans that want the best concerts available of that group). I have all available Dead videos (didn't get GD movie - waited a little too long), and love them all (guess which type of fan I am). To the non-Deadhead fans, I would say get The Closing of Winterland, Downhill from Here, and (maybe because of Bruce Hornsby) View from the Vault 2. Then continue your quest for the perfect concert video (my personal choice is a toss up between The Last Waltz, and Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense).
Now. For the Deadicated, Deadhead fans, I would recommend anything & everything available (including Grateful Dawg). Forget the reviews from some of the others about the cheesie psychadelic effects, forget the comments of "this concert wasn't as good as", and forget the "it was better live becase they edited" comments. When it comes to Garcia and The Grateful Dead (in the illustrious words of Robert Hunter)"Like a Steam Locomotive Rolling Down the Track. He's Gone, He's Gone and Nothings Gonna Bring Him Back" so enjoy what's out there. Kudos to Monterey Home Video for making these concerts available.