The last halfstep of '76. After Rio Grandeo everyone including the crowd gets into it. The source is a B+ AUD.

Topical

Timely

Different types of solos at each turn: straightaway, Listen-to-the-music-play, spacey, bluegrassy

This one is fiery, especially the solo, in the vein of 8/24/80, including a hint of a Delilah Jones growl.

People may know but the people don't care

The tone is unique for sure. That makes this a nice historical artifact, but this is not the best stand alone scarlet by a mile.

And by the way, this one is on Henrikson's Deadpod this week and next.

This one deserves its spot - it's the two above it with which I would disagree. I see that you feel about this one, buffalo virgo, like I do about 12/28/79. Spring 77 was a good time, but it's almost like you have to leave all of those versions out to get a sense of the real story. This is clearly one of the best of the early 80s. I think that 9/2/80 and 9/6/80 give 10/17/83 a run for its money, but I wouldn't try to change your mind. 4/23/84 isn't quite as good as any of those, but it's better than the June 80 Alaska version that has caught on here at headyversion. And I've already lain bare the bias I have for 12/28/79, which itself was 3 days away from the 1980s. There's got to be another one out there. Let me know if you find any others you like. I can always give a new 16 minute Sugaree a try - especially if it's an opener.

#1 ever. This one is all about the first two solos. Both of them have incredible peaks and both back off into ethereal, wondrous episodes in which the music plays the band. Bobby plays slide in the second and he helps and does not hurt. It took me a day and a half to download this one back in 1999. That is how far we have come, my friends. Once I heard this version, it was the only one that would ever top my list.