I was a taper at the time and, though I did not record the show myself, I did meet up with people at the show who did make a great board tape and later sent me a cassette copy. Years later, I was selling stereo and TV gear at a store in Berkeley, and Phil Lesh came in and I sold him a VCR.
I then ran to my car and grabbed that tape, which he graciously signed for me. When he saw the set list and figured out it was a tape of the last show at Winterland, he asked me “where did you get this?” I stuttered and said, “you know, from a taper.” He just laughed and left. The next day, the Grateful Dead office complained to the store about some guy “using a bootleg Dead tape to sell stereos,” which was not true.
Phil Lesh came in and I sold him a VCR.
Despite the dressing down I got from the store manager, that is still one of my favorite tapes, and shows, of all time. And I forgive Phil for getting me in trouble years ago.
~ Michael Papanek