The Closing of Winterland: December 31, 1978

Disc 1
1	Sugar Magnolia 7:15
2	Scarlet Begonias 11:56
3	Fire on the Mountain 15:05
4	Me & My Uncle 3:09
5	Big River 7:08
6	Friend of the Devil 10:44
7	It's All Over Now 8:23
8	Stagger Lee 7:59
9	From the Heart of Me 3:46
10	Sunshine Daydream 3:11
Disc 2
1	Samson and Delilah 9:15
2	Ramble on Rose 9:30
3	I Need a Miracle 11:17
4	Terrapin Station 12:27
5	Playing in the Band 13:12
Disc 3
1	Rhythm Devils 19:29
2	Not Fade Away 19:35
3	Around and Around 9:14
Disc 4
1	Dark Star 11:53
2	The Other One 4:55
3	Dark Star 1:09
4	Wharf Rat 11:08
5	St. Stephen 7:51
6	Good Lovin' 13:57
7	Casey Jones 5:17
8	Johnny B. Goode 7:14
9	We Bid You Goodnight 4:13

Barnes & Noble

Winterland was one of the focal points of San Francisco's rock scene for ages, and no band was more closely associated with the venue than the Grateful Dead -- making them an appropriate choice to bring the curtain down for the last time. A companion to the DVD set of the same name, this four-disc, four-hour set, recorded on New Year's Eve, 1978, presents the band's concert in its entirety, and it's an aptly winding trek indeed. The band kick things off by harking back to the jug-band stylings of their genesis, via sweetly swinging, bucolic versions of songs like "Sugar Magnolia" and "Scarlet Begonias," before segueing cleverly into the country classic "Big River." The evening's second set finds the Dead stretching out into more improvisatory territory, notably the stellar unison playing of Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh on "Samson and Delilah" and the hyper-extended medley of "Not Fade Away" and "Around and Around" (which adds John Cipollina to the already potent guitar attack). In keeping with the celebratory nature of the evening, the band took the then-rare step of playing "Dark Star" -- an intense, particularly spacey rendition, with eye-opening sparring between Garcia and Bob Weir. By the night's end, the Dead had given themselves over to pure party mode, trotting out animated versions of "Good Lovin' " and "Johnny B. Goode" before bidding adieu to Winterland and its habitués with a sing-along "We Bid You Goodnight." Talk about going out with a bang. David Sprague

All Music Guide

The music packed into these four CDs features the Grateful Dead's entire three-set show that formally retired the Bay Area rock and roll palace, Winterland Arena. The content comes directly from the original 24-track analogue tapes, which sound nothing short of sublime. The Closing Of Winterland (2003) is the audio only companion to the two-DVD title of the same name. One major difference between the two is that these CDs only contain the standard stereo 2.0 mix -- as opposed to the respective DTS and Dolby 5.1 mixes on the DVD. By late 1978, the Grateful Dead were at an undeniable crossroads. Even though the tenure of husband and wife team Keith Godchaux (keyboards), and former session vocalist at Muscle Shoals Studios, Donna Jean Godchaux (vocals) was drawing to a close, the band still functioned with their ever-voracious appetite for improvisation and the kind of in-the-moment musicianship that became the cornerstone of the Grateful Dead's mere existence. For this very special performance, they pull out all the stops with a healthy sampling of both new as well as seminal selections from their classic repertoire. Like musical magicians, the Grateful Dead seamlessly maneuver between the lengthy and thoroughly psychedelic coupling of "Scarlet Begonias" with "Fire On The Mountain," or the open-throttle arrangement of the Bob Weir (guitar/vocals) led cowboy medley of "Me and My Uncle" and "Big River." Other impressive selections from the first set include a snarling cover of the Womack's "All Over Now," and a rare solo lead vocal from Donna Jean Godchaux on "From The Heart Of Me." The ante is upped during the second set, commencing with a thoroughly funky take on Rev. Gary Davis' "Samson And Delilah." The band continue to rise to the auspicious occasion as they wind through a stellar and extended medley with "Terrapin Station" and "Playing In The Band." The "Rhythm Devils" percussion break spotlights Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and long-time enthusiast and noted author, Ken Kesey -- who is actually playing the amplified remnants of Thunder Machine -- the infamous "Further" bus that the Merry Pranksters traveled in. For most seasoned Grateful Deadheads, the third set will command the most attention, as they effortlessly weave their unmistakable musical and definitely muse-inspired magic. From the opening notes of the first "Dark Star" to be performed in over four years, through to the recently revived "St. Stephen," the band use their uncanny abilities of communal sonic transportation to envelope the listener and incrementally relocate. Although they would continue through a number of personnel changes for another 17 years, they would rarely (if ever) regain the fortitude and above all, the passion that is represented on this collection. The Closing Of Winterland is a must-own for every degree of Grateful Dead listener, and is an ideal trial-by-fire springboard for the curious. Lindsay Planer

Rolling Stone

Even by Dead standards, this was an epic show.... It's the Dead at their best, approximating jazz. Greg Kot