Road Trips, Vol. 4 No. 2: April Fools' '88 (3CD) Review

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(More customer reviews)This Road Trips features the entire show from April 1, 1988 as well as the entire second set from the night before all performed at the Brendan Byrne Arena, in New Jersey. These were the second and third shows in a three night stand. The release is also quite long as each disc runs over 79 minutes. The first disc starts off with the first set from 4-1 and a little fooling around before leading into a strong Mississippi Half-Step which gives way to an impressive Jack Straw before a sweet and soulful To Lay Me Down. The second of only two Dylan-less follows and is quite impressive and has already been released on Postcards Of The Hanging - Grateful Dead Perform The Songs of Bob Dylan. The set is rounded out with strong versions of When Push Comes To Shove, New Minglewood Blues and Cumberland Blues. The set ends with a raging Deal. The fist disc is then rounded out with a couple of songs from the first set on 3-31. When I Paint My Masterpiece is fun and the Let It Grow is amazing. Due to cd timing reasons, the encore from 4-1 ends the first disc.
The second disc is the entire second set from 3-31 and starts with a hot Scarlet->Fire. Samson rocks along hard as it usually does while Terrapin Station is very strong. A fun Drums->Space leads into a hot Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad. The I need A Miracle that comes next is nice although Bob does get a little lost.Dear Mr. Fantasy leads intothe Hey Jude ending while All Along The Watchtower tries to do something a little different even if it isn't entirely successful. The Knockin' On Heaven's Door is sweet.
Disc three features the entire second set from 4-1 and starts with a cool China Cat->Rider. Estimated Prophet is strong and gives way to a flowing Eyes Of The World. The Drums->Space is quite cool which gives way to a heavy The Other One where Bob's voice has added effects as was common at the time. Wharf Rat is strong while Throwing Stones runs a little flat in spots before giving way to a absolutely kickin' Not Fade Away. As I said before the encore of Brokedown Palace ends the first disc. All in all, a worthy purchase from the Dead's site.

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You all know about the glory that was 1987. A year after we almost lost Jerry to his diabetic coma in the summer of '86, the Dead were back, Jerry was the phoenix risen, and the band was bigger than ever: There was "Touch of Grey," In the Dark, the stadium tour with Dylan, a huge influx of new Heads; it was good times all around, for sure. The band was revived and a new day dawned!
Well, we haven't forgotten '88 -- far from it -- and this edition of Road Trips (Vol. 4, No. 2) shows you why. It offers up the entire April 1, 1988 concert from the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ (maybe you just called it "the Meadowlands" back in the day), plus the entire second set and a few first set highlights from the previous night's show, March 31.
This release does not contain a bonus disc.
Track listing:
Disc 1:
1. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
2. Jack Straw
3. To Lay Me Down
4. Ballad Of A Thin Man
5. When Push Comes To Shove
6. New Minglewood Blues
7. Cumberland Blues
8. Deal
9. When I Paint My Masterpiece
10. Let It Grow
11. Brokedown Palace
Disc 2:
1. Scarlet Begonias
2. Fire On The Mountain
3. Samson and Delilah
4. Terrapin Station
5. Rhythm Devils
6. Space
7. Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
8. I Need A Miracle
9. Dear Mr. Fantasy
10. Hey Jude
11. All Along The Watchtower
12. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Disc 3:
1. China Cat Sunflower
2. I Know You Rider
3. Estimated Prophet
4. Eyes Of The World
5. Rhythm Devils
6. Space
7. The Other One
8. Wharf Rat
9. Throwing Stones
10. Not Fade Away

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