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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Books and Music

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Submissions

24
Franklin's Tower
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

One of the best played versions from one of the best played shows in the Brent era---ever.
16
Shakedown Street
March 24, 1981
Rainbow Theater

15+ minutes of funk w/extended overlapping vocal rounds of "just gotta poke around", etc. before jam Brent adds cool "fuzzy" SFX
1
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Check out Keith on this one! He's never been so up front before & right outta the gate!!
21
Cream Puff War
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Peppy early version w/Jer belting out lyrics & Pig doin' some nice work on organ. No archive copy exists; got this off 30 Days of Dead-worth the DL!
9
Passenger
May 7, 1979
Allan Kirby Field House

Super-charged EARLY Brent version rips and tears and shreds. Final jam before the coda is the best they ever did in this tune. Goes to 11.

Comments

Deal
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

This here Deal is the real...well....deal. Seriously tho' it's vaulted right into my top 5 all time--no fooling. For one thing, it's got that great late 70's middle jam that goes around for several turns, all filled with color and nuance and panache in Jerry's leads (if you prefer the power jam codas that marked the 80's versions, that's fine too--may I suggest 5/1/81?), but fans of the slightly mellower yet still musically killer 70s versions are gonna love this. Best of all is Jerry's crazy good vocal reading throughout the tune--especially in the early going with lots of "if I told yas'" peppered with "people" and "burning off both your little ears"--always hallmarks of versions Jer was totally into--it's right here. Not to mention that the whole band wails vocally on the final portion--many go 'rounds on don't ya let that deal go down, but with overlapping call outs and awesome Donna interplay too. Such a stellar version sitting mired in sad single digits--so even if you don't have the new box set featuring this at least check it out on the archive--you won't be sorry.
Cassidy
April 7, 1978
The Sportatorium

Really think this one's better than advertised --a little more jamming than usual and dark's not a bad way to describe it--jer's solo is pretty intense but he sticks the landing...should get a bump from new box set
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Just bumped this to double digits--should be way higher--location & as said above audience reaction on 'just like NYC' sends chills & Garcia--croaky vox & all--nails all the lyrics and growls 'em out...nice little trill of guitar licks at the finale too--up worthy version here
Me and My Uncle
May 31, 1969
McArthur Court, University of Oregon

very nice. Some of the best versions --or at least the ones that stand out from the almost pringles- like similarity of the later years-- can be found in '69...try also 5-10-69 just a couple weeks before this one. Nice rec. here
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

ridiculously low ranking for a brilliant version--and like those who've listened and voted said, the solo is phenomenal.