Download Series Vol. 4: 6/18/76 (Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ) & 6/21/76 (Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA)

This concert is loose, warm, fun and improvisational. 1976 is special. Perhaps it’s because their extra-curricular explorations were still in more of the creative and expansive rather than speedy realms—as they would be later. This is fantastic. To give an idea, I’m very proud to have 34 of 36 DPs plus about 7 or 8 others. Right now, I’d put this with ANY of them. Perfect show.and the first two songs, The Music Never Stopped and Sugaree are as good an opening of ANY Dead concert. And, I might add, my fav Row Jimmy (along w the one on DP 12). And best NFA.

If you are going for the Download Series, you've probably already plundered Dick's Picks, and are a seasoned Deadhead, so you know that some of these shows can be a little 'rougher' (generally straight board mixes, and what the audience heard is what you get), having said this, the Capitol/Tower shows are two of the finest examples of The Gratefuls in 1976. The sonics here are comparable to Dick's Picks (actually Better than some of the 'Picks'). The band is in Fine form. There's a high jam-quotient, as well as the tightness we'd see come to fruition in 1977... So you kind-of get the best of both worlds, as arrangements became more solidified, and less malleable in '77 (And generally, we Deadheads are torn between solid arrangements and free-for-alls. Here, you have a nice balance of both). There are quite a few jewels: A Scarlet Begonias that is one of the finest to ever hit the cosmic drift... When it reaches the Coda, Jerry kicks out this amazing array of cascading notes that you could play for any of the silly metal heads who complained that Jerry wasn't 'fast enough' (what do They know anyway?!). ...you expect them to break into a rousing 'Fire', but of course, we'd have to wait another year for that transition... The version of Playing In The Band is one of the best I've ever heard... Again, the guys are turning on that proverbial dime, and taking the development section to heights that will have you reaching for your airline oxygen mask: The usual jazz influence is there, but they go beyond the expected, breaking it down into a near 'Space' jam, and letting the song reel out for nearly half an hour. Amazing. This is the wonderstuff that set these guys in their own league: Apart from, say, Miles Davis, you'll never hear such delineated thoughtful exploration in popular music. 'Playing' finally resolves back into the 'song proper' with a beautiful Phil Lesh solo that's in my opinion, one of his best... Drifting seamlessly into a dreamy 'The Wheel', which again, is one of the finest I've ever heard. I could go on and on about why this is such a wonderful release (For instance, the delicate touch sherry adds to Lazy Lightning, the Exemplary 'Mission In The Rain', or the lovely, 'fragile', 'Hard Time' that rounds out the set) ...but I'll leave it here. Certainly My favorite of The Download Series. 3 1/2 hours of Amazing. 5 Stars, without a question. The Grateful Dead at their personal Best, and nothing else can touch that. :)