Grateful Dead: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir (vocals, guitar); Brent Mydland (vocals, keyboards); Phil Lesh (vocals, bass); Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart (drums). Recorded at Meadowlands Sports Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 16, 1989. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. By the time of this 1989 performance, the Grateful Dead were heading towards the last phase of their career. In a cruel, Spinal Tap-like twist of fate, keyboardist Brent Mydland would soon meet the same untimely fate as his predecessors Ron "Pigpen" McKernan and Keith Godchaux. Band visionary Jerry Garcia would follow him a few years after, effectively ending the band's long career. But on this night in New Jersey, they still had some of the old fire left. While newer songs such as "Built to Last" and "Picasso Moon" were not up to the standards of the band's previous work, they're outnumbered here by numerous classics, including the seldom-heard gem "Attics of My Life" from 1970's AMERICAN BEAUTY, and the band's legendary free-form tour de force "Dark Star." Even at this late date in their career, Garcia and bassist supremo Phil Lesh could still spin gorgeous sonic webs around each other that were truly transcendent in nature. NIGHTFALL OF DIAMONDS stands to prove that even towards the end of their lifespan, the Grateful Dead were a band full of surprises.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: CD
• Released: 8/31/2004