Grateful Dead - 1978-12-19 - Jackson, MS (SBD + Ex Aud)

Grateful Dead

1978-12-19

Memorial Coliseum

Jackson, MS

Soundboard + Excellent Audience Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

1st Set (SBD): 

01. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo >

02. Franklin's Tower

03. New Minglewood Blues

04. They Love Each Other

05. Me And My Uncle >

06. Big River

07. Loser

08. El Paso

09. Row Jimmy

10. Lazy Lightnin' >

11. Supplication

2nd Set (Ex Aud):

01. Scarlet Begonias >

02. Fire On The Mountain 

03. Promised Land

04. Stagger Lee

05. Truckin' > 

06. Drums > 

07. The Other One > 

08. Stella Blue > 

09. Not Fade Away > 

10. Around & Around

Encore (Ex Aud):

01. Casey Jones 

Grateful Dead - 1978-12-19 - Jackson, MS (SBD + Ex Aud)

1978 - In the lore of the Grateful Dead, 1978 has always been a year that receives mixed reviews. As regular readers of this blog know, 1977 was THE YEAR for the Dead with a run of shows that may be unmatched in the band’s history. So, 1978 has always founds itself in the “tough act to follow” position. In truth, the Dead’s playing in 1978 wasn’t quite at the same level as the prior year. For example, their 3 shows at the Pyramids, while historic in terms of the setting, did not feature the band's finest musical moments. Their performance at Winterland on New Year’s Eve, however, is the stuff of legends. My own Dead experiences from 1978 reflect the same dichotomy. On the one hand, I saw them on May 10 and 11 in New Haven and Springfield, 2 shows that were so good they were officially released as Dick’s Picks Volume 25. On the other hand, I attended their September 2 performance at Giants Stadium, the last show before they headed to Egypt, and the band was clearly not firing on all cylinders. That said, when the Dead were good in 1978, they were very good, maybe as good as they were in 1977. This recording - 1st set SBD, 2nd set and encore Ex Aud - from December 19, 1978, 45 years ago today, captures the band in fine form during the only show they ever played in Mississippi. By the way, the band was back on the road in December after having to cancel 5 shows in late November as Garcia was suffering from laryngitis, which had first reared its ugly head during a nationwide radio broadcast of their concert from the Capitol Theater in Passaic on November 24, 1978.  I had missed out of tickets to that one, but called the box office day of the show to see if ant last minute seats were available.  The guy who answered the phone said no, but told me if  could come up with some "coke" (not the kind you drink) and bring it to the box office, he'd find me a seat!  Needless to say, I wound up listening (and taping) the show on the radio!