The show is also famous for being, as was well advertised at the time, the first quadraphonic simulcast. KQED and KSAN broadcast the audio on FM airwaves while KQED also put the video out on the television. Apparently, when set up properly with two stereo systems and the TV, the audio and visual experience was incredible for the time period. Still, it was better to be at Winterland in person where someone reportedly passed out shrooms to all comers, provoking Grace Slick to announce from the stage, “We’d all like to thank the Psilly Man for his generosity tonight.” While one of the audio broadcasts became a common vinyl bootleg, the video has never surfaced as far as we know.

The Dead’s set is a bit uneven, but still quite satisfying. Phil is brilliant throughout, undergirding some of the evening’s best performances, including Cold Rain and Snow, China> Rider, and the magnificent Good Lovin’ with Pig’s vocals and Jerry’s awesome guitar work. The Till the Morning Comes is also solid. Just the second time the Dead ever played the tune, it might be the best of the six renditions they ended up doing of the song.

Of course, the night is most remembered as the evening that Janis Joplin passed away. But, despite the radio announcing the unfortunate news, it seems nobody on stage or in the audience had yet realized what had transpired.