Rating: 
Summary: The Heart of Gold Band ... on a Great DVD!
Review: Here I am sitting at my computer reviewing the Grateful Dead's newly released, "Closing of Winterland" DVD and it dawns on me that this is my twentieth year (Merriweather '83 was my first concert) of being 'on the bus'. Well, all I can say is that the "Closing of Winterland" DVD is just about as perfect a gift as I can think of to celebrate. Here is the Dead shown in all their musical glory during the great '78 tour, performing at a revered, historic last concert at the famed, Winterland. Yes, I know the Dead are known for dropping the ball (or the ice cream cone for that matter...) at the BIG EVENTS (think Woodstock), but this is not the case here. In this live local San Fransisco, Public TV, production we really see the band operating at it's musical peak.This is defintley X-FACTOR enhanced material, which has a great set list including favorites such as "Scarlet Begonias", "Fire on the Mountain","Casey Jones" and "Terrapin Station". To top things off, the band makes the occasion extra special by playing rarely performed tunes such as "Dark Star" and "St. Stephen".The entire third set is just amazing!I think I understand now, why so many tapers have been clamoring for this special show all these years. As for the DVD itself, the folks at Grateful Dead Productions have done a truely outstanding job of putting everything together.They deserve kudos for taking a 1978 recording (especially the sound) and updating it through the use of modern day technology. The DVD also contains loads of extras which will keep any Dead Head busy for a long while. I was impressed with the nostalgic, historical documentary "Winterland: A Million Memories", which included interviews with Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Steve Parrish & the late Bill Graham about the show. I love the various shots and vintage interviews with the 1978 era fans. It really helped explain the atmosphere and feelings that surrounded the concert. Also included are short videos and still photography of opening acts The Blues Brothers & New Riders of the Purple Sage. Finally, the packaging of this set is really well done. I like the beautifully reproduced, classic, Kelly & Mouse artwork along with a insert booklet containing the set list, great color photographs of the band performing and well written remembrances of the era, venue and the show.I highly recommend this wonderful DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful set, but
Review: First off, I'm not a deadhead so I'm not going to give you an analysis if why this is a great set, I just know that I enjoyed a vast majority of the songs on there. Secondly, the sound is simply spectacular. Nice mix. Not over the top 5.1, but there are some nice effects and I enjoy how it opened up through the back. I only listened to the DTS so can't comment on the 2.0 or the regular 5.1. Great special features, particularly the winterland documentary. well done. too bad the NRPS track is a compilation video rather than footage from the actual show, but as far as video go it was well done. Why the loss of a star? Because they chose to cram this on 2 discs rather than boost the video quality over three. If you check out the bit-rate it is about half what movies are, particularly on the first disc. Picture quality improves somewhat in the third set. I know that they didn't have the greatest elements, that this was shot for low-resolution tv, but the digital noise that you see there, particularly in the darker shots would probably disappear for the most part if you raised the bit-rate. I know the music comes first, second and third, but the discrepency between the beautful soundtrack and the poor video was distracting. But I will say that the editing was very nice. All-in-all, this is not only a great document, but a very enjoyable dvd and well worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: "Because I used to love them"....
Review: The dead in prime form...they were definately "on" this night. With all the late 80s/early 90s footage available on DVD, it's nice to have more vingage material available, especially a complete performance from 1978 (a golden era). This bridges the gap between 1974 (Grateful Dead Movie) and the band's 1980 performance (Dead Ahead)...I'm holding on to my Laserdisc copies until these come to DVD! What amazes me the most is how animated Jerry was during this era, rockin' and groovin' his head & body to the music, moving more that just his eyebrows or his hand to push his glasses back up when they slide down. Video brings the music to a new level, being able to see the "interplay" between band members. The extras are great too. Looking forward to what they'll come up with next from the vaults (maybe some Jerry Band, Summer Solstice, Bobby & the Midnites??).
Rating:
Summary: Loved Every Second
Review: The sound is excellent. Sounds as good as any GD CD I have. Great set list. Jerry truly was a strong mule of a musician as everyone who knew him says he was. This video proves it. He is in rare form. Lots of close ups of Jerry and Donna Jean, as well as Bob. Not enough of Phil though. I loved and even giggled at times at the entire performance. Dark Star Wharf Rat St Stephen were to die for.
Rating:
Summary: 70s Jerry Wants You To Buy This
Review: Just a short little review. Wow!!! I have pretty much all the Dead DVDs, and this one is worlds apart. First reason is Jerry. He has never been seen on video like this - in command, in charge, vital, his 1970s self. While his 1990s self was better documented, that was perhaps less indicative of who Jerry really was. Now I feel like I know the guy better. In the performance, Jer has power to spare, a welcome sight. New licks and vocal inflections everywhere. His voice sounding younger in line with his appearance. This guy is raging and putting on a damn fine show. Seeing Bobby as a young man is pretty interesting too. Even at age 32 or so, he looks and moves like an awkward kid. Donna is a treat to see after hearing her on tapes but never seeing her. Second reason is the video camera work. While the resolution isn't great, it is flat out FASCINATING to be a member of the audience of a 1978 Dead show. Unlike the other Vault videos, this one relies heavily on the audience's prespective and their experience, while providing plenty of close-ups. The philosophy of the public TV camera crew was evidently to document the mood of the night; it's largely successful. The video of Johnny B. Goode is worth the price by itself. This is all helped by cool apsect #3, the incredibly well-recorded and well mixed sound. It's more enveloping than any video yet. My spacial and sonic curiosities are REALLY satisfied by this DVD. The essence of what HAPPENED that night, missing from other stage-feed videos that exclude the crowd, is easily felt here. Also, for those curious about Winterland, how it interacted with concertgoers and fostered a happy experience, this video footage sheds some light on that. It was a grand forgotten space. And let's face it, this is the only video with the band fully soaked in its well-known drug days. The GD are all having grand arcs of whatever brand of intoxication, as had become their expertise. It shows in that particular brand of '70s fire seen & heard in their playing. They are not bored or listless, nor are their minds on other things. They were all about MUSIC on this night. Thanks for the great DVD set.
Rating:
Summary: THE DEAD IN THEIR PRIME
Review: This release took some time to come out due to having the technology to sync up and clean up the audio and video tracks, many deadheads have tapes and vhs of this since it was broadcasted, but it never sounded better than here (much better than I expected). The video is decent, it's late 70's video, so I was'nt expecting miracles there, it's patchy in spots, but the good sound and performance make this a must have dvd for fans as it is and will be the only concert footage released from the 70's other than the Grateful Dead Movie. The band was at their peak during the 70's - this performance blows away the dvd's from subsequent years. There are many highlights including- "scarlet begonias>fire on the mountain", cippolina jamming on "not fade away", and a short but very good "dark star"...the guitar solo on "wharf rat" is a classic Garcia moment- probably his high point of the show- the whole 3rd set is great. The band is mostly "on" for this one, they were so hot in '77 and '78 that most of the shows ranged from good to incredibly good, this disc is a fine document from a time many fans have been wishing for...excellent work by the GD archivists.
Rating: 
Summary: Off key and poor graphics
Review: Donna sang off-key most of the time. I suppose that's what she really did in concert, or at least in this concert, but I don't think this was one of the Grateful Dead's best performances by any long shot. Also, the graphics were terrible and annoying. It looked like somebody took a typewriter and typed over the picture as it was playing. "Happy New Year!" Ok, we get the idea, now please take away that stupid graphic. The Grateful Dead graphic wasn't even lined up. In general, the graphics deterred from the program, at least for me. It was great to see Jerry and he obviously was enjoying himself, so that is a good thing, but overall, I wouldn't waste my time to watch this again.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!!!!!!!
Review: To give this DVD only 5 stars in a great injustice. This is the Dead at the top of their game. The film quality is great, considering when and where it was shot. The bonus material is awesome! The video/pictorial collage of the New Riders performing Glendale Train is great. Buy This!!!!
Rating:
Summary: me so happy
Review: WOW this is really great. not sure how anyone could give it less than 5 stars. for any dead fan this is a treasure far surpassing any dead video release so far. By any measure, this is some of the best dead I have ever heard, and, to be able to see it happening live is a total joy. This is a very lucid and energized dead playing a dream setlist. The songs start well, develop intelligently and end greacefully and surpisingly precisely compared to their usual casual sloppyness. The singing is, for the dead, flawless and in key. The sound quality is as good if not better than anybody's picks (my only complaint being that i think bobby's guitar is a little low in the mix)....yes, i have heard much better jams and solos by jerry on other nights, but overall this concert is from start to finish, a gem and its so wonderful that it was captured on video. watching this concert, while an obvious joy, makes me very very sad and depressed....what a world they managed to create. now this very hip and happy scene is gone and watching this makes it very obvious. But im very glad to have this. Until now, all i had of 70's dead was The Grateful Dead Movie, which while really great, can't even compare to this in terms of a true concert experience. Thank you dead people...I really hope you will release that dead field trip. please
Rating:
Summary: Primo Sound from a Primo Era
Review: I was still at Green Street Middle School when this show was performed, but as a Dead fan from the early 80s on, I have always had an affinity to the sound of the Dead circa '77 and '78 (probably born out of my possessing the Cornell show early in my collecting days.) Anyway, this show is amazing. As others have noted, the video quality and camera work is reminiscent of a high school TV station production, but there are great moments capturing interplay between Jerry, Phil, Bob, et al. Jerry was truly enjoying himself on this night, and to me, the highlight is the group huddled as they break into the first SF Dark Star in over 1554? days. You gotta see Phil's determination to lock in with Jerry...after he sings 1st verse...classic! Amazing sound quality and an interesting bonus feature where the engineer explains his intent to create sound that makes you feel as if you're part of the band. Each instrument is delicately seperated in the mix. The technical team was definitely successful on all levels...order this one for sure. Hey, we can never bring it back - but it sure doesn't hurt trying!!
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