by William RuhlmannThe Grateful Dead's annual series of New Year's shows in San Francisco were always special occasions, especially to San Francisco Deadheads, of course. In 1977, the band, which had released Terrapin Station, its first studio album since returning from its retirement, toured heavily to support that album and was thus well-oiled for the four nights it spent at what was in effect its home venue, Winterland. This three-CD set presents most of the second concert, held on December 29, and some of the third one, held the following night. Casual fans may find it a competent but unexceptional show, while Deadheads will treasure the 53-and-a-half-minute medley in the second set (and on the second CD) of Playing in the Band\u002FChina Cat Sunflower\u002FI Know You Rider\u002FChina Doll\u002FPlaying Jam\u002FDrums\u002FNot Fade Away\u002FPlaying in the Band, especially because it marks the first performance of the 1969 song China Cat Sunflower in over three years (that's why you hear all that applause when they start to play it). Note that the CD deletes performances of It Must Have Been the Roses (a Robert Hunter song) and Sunrise (a showcase for singer Donna Jean Godchaux) that took place in the second set after the medley of Bertha\u002FGood Lovin' and that the third CD, containing the encores of Terrapin Station and Johnny B. Goode, has been filled up with a second-set medley from December 30 of Estimated Prophet\u002FEyes of the World\u002FSt. Stephen\u002FSugar Magnolia.