From non-Deadhead point of view, by the late ’70s Jerry Garcia’s coterie of merry pranksters had long lost their lysergic luster and mass appeal; from an actual perspective, though, GRATEFUL DEAD were flying as high then as the success of 1977’s “Terrapin Station” allowed them to, and the band’s forthcoming live album, titled “Duke ’78” and slated to be issued on September 20th as a three-CD or four-LP set as well as digitally, illustrate the point in style. Yes, a few volumes of the “Dick’s Picks” might have come close to this performance in terms of recording dates, yet the quality of two-track tapes targeted only the faithful, while the document of the ensemble’s show at Cameron Indoor Stadium, in Durham, NC’s Duke University, should impress wider circles of their listeners.
Actually, this release, to be made available on its own, is a part of the “Friend Of The Devils: April 1978” – a Dead.Net exclusive box set comprising 19 discs which span with the following concerts:
• Curtis Hixon Convention Hall, Tampa, FL – April 6th, 1978
• Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, FL – April 7th, 1978
• Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL – April 8th, 1978
• Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA – April 10th, 1978
• Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA – April 11th, 1978
• Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University, Durham, NC – April 12th, 1978
• Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA – April 14th, 1978
• Huntington Civic Center, Huntington, WV – April 16th, 1978
These are strictly for the ‘Heads, of course – but why there’s no DVD included in “Duke ’78” (watch the video below) is a mystery.
Duke ’78
CD 1:
1. Jack Straw
2. Dire Wolf
3. Beat It On Down The Line
4. Peggy-O
5. Mama Tried
6. Mexicali Blues
7. Funiculi Funicula
8. Row Jimmy
9. New Minglewood Blues
10. Loser
11. Lazy Lightning
12. Supplication
CD 2:
1. Bertha
2. Good Lovin’
3. It Must Have Been The Roses
CD 3:
1. Estimated Prophet
2. Eyes Of The World
3. Rhythm Devils
4. Truckin’
5. Wharf Rat
6. Around And Around
7. U.S. Blues
