Rhino Factoids: The Grateful Dead Invade Red Rocks

38 years ago today, The Grateful Dead delivered a very memorable performance in Morrison, Colorado, their first ever at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater, and to put a cherry atop that stop of the tour, they promptly performed another top-notch show at the venue the very next night…and then they returned seven weeks later to play two more shows!

But since we’re focusing specifically on today, allow us to remind you that the set list on July 7, 1978 was as follows:

1. Jack Straw
2. Candyman
3. Me And My Uncle
4. Big River
5. Friend Of The Devil
6. Cassidy
7. Tennessee Jed
8. Passenger
9. Peggy-O
10. The Music Never Stopped
11. Cold Rain And Snow
12. Beat It On Down The Line
13. Scarlet Begonias
14. Fire On The Mountain
15. Dancing In The Street
16. Rhythm Devils
17. Space
18. Not Fade Away
19. Black Peter
20. Around And Around
21. U.S. Blues
22. Johnny B. Goode

As you’ve probably guessed after that opening paragraph, the Dead were quick to develop a fondness for the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Indeed, the venue would, over the course of time, come to be a regular stop on the Dead’s touring schedule: they played there again in ’79, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, and ’87. But as with so many things, you never forget your first time, and now the band’s fans can recall that first Dead show at Red Rocks even if they weren’t there, thanks to Rhino’s recent release of July 1978: The Complete Recordings.

Isn’t it nice when the calendar conveniently gives us an opportunity to hype something from our catalog?

But here’s the funny thing: even though it was the first of their two consecutive nights at Red Rocks, the 7/7/78 show isn’t actually on Spotify, so we can’t provide you with the opportunity to listen to that one. We can, however, offer up the 7/8/78 show, so you’ll just have to trust us when we tell you that the show on the 7th was just as good…and if you don’t believe us, then you’ll just have to go buy a copy of July 1978: The Complete Recordings for yourself!