Product Details

• Actors: Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Monterey Video
• VHS Release Date: October 7, 1997
• Run Time: 150 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304580932
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,275 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Made for hard-core Deadheads only, this two-and-a-half-hour-long concert video (released after the death of leader Jerry Garcia) captures an entire live show by the psychedelic pioneers. Shot in the summer of 1989 at Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin, the Dead are caught during one of their latter-day musical peaks. Appearing jovial (Garcia actually moves during several tunes!), the band provides numerous patented extended jams during a two-set, 23-song performance. Lively highlights include Garcia's blistering solos during "Deal" and "China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider"; the spacey pairing of "Uncle John's Band" with "Playing in the Band"; and the tender ballad "Standing on the Moon." The motionless Dead were never a visually compelling live act, so viewers shouldn't expect anything more than close-ups of the sextet's faces and hands. However, such a conventional approach is preferred over the cheesy kaleidoscope of video effects that mar numerous songs here. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Live Video Available, November 15, 1999

By 

P. J. Voisine "PJV" (Torrington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Grateful Dead - Downhill From Here (DVD)

This is by far the best Grateful Dead I've ever seen - for many reasons: sound and video quality, performance, selections. . . But the most important aspect that puts this particular video above every other is the fact that it is pure performance video. Little or none of that dreamy, colorful overlay stuff that distorts the performances and, in IMHO, is overused on all other live GD recordings. This can be watched over and over. It's the Greatest!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta get down to the Cumberland Mine...., October 20, 1999

By 

Dave Bucholtz ([e-mail]) (Ontario, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Grateful Dead - Downhill From Here (DVD)

Well, whats to say of an amazing concert--recorded on video for future prosperity... and then digitally re-mastered and released on DVD. Aside from being mastered on video tape, the visual aspect is captivating. The audio is of extremely high quality, and the caliber of the show is top notch for that time period. The band is having fun, the crowd is having fun... and with the right preparation, you too can "be there!". I highly recommend anyone interested in an amazing band displaying its playing prowess to order this DVD. Oh, the only difference I noticed from my VHS to my DVD is that in the first set when they splice in the footage from the follwing night, they fade it down and make it absolutely clear that it is a different show--whereas in the VHS version, it is seamless and aside from Bob Weir's shirt change, one may well have not even noticed. Whoa, oh oh it's Magic!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best we've got, February 1, 2000

By 

Mark Coffey "austindeadhead" (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Grateful Dead - Downhill From Here (DVD)

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.