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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24533


Submissions

52
Dark Star
Dec. 31, 1978
Winterland Arena

Farewell to Winterland; Not 40 mins. long ; no break down into feedback nonsense. Just sweet jazzy jamming; Just exactly perfect send off.
10
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Transition jam weaves into spaces most fail to go; touch-down into Fire is GOLD. Jerry flubs first line in Fire-after that: 1 of the BEST ever!
19
He's Gone
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Perfect, self-contained, blues-infused, stellar vocals, 14+ minutes of bliss. Extra fun: Check out the "Birdsong" riff about 10 secs. into the intro
36
Dark Star
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

Amazed this isn't here yet Gorgeous, melodic, jazz-infused, mellow, trippy, spacey into hard ripping Jerry riffs; melts into Brokedown Palace. Sublime
48
Cold Rain and Snow
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Kicks off with authority a 2d set every DeadHead needs to hear. Perfect bookend to Jerry's scorching Dew. They say it was cold&rainy that nite in ME.

Comments

Candyman
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

Need a rally here for this one. Flows like liquid from Jerry's fingers and his voice is as stated above in fine delicate form here. There's a ton of great Candymans but some get lost in the shuffle and we need to pull this ace of the deck and show it around.
The Music Never Stopped
Oct. 2, 1976
Riverfront Arena

Adding upvote as well solely for the MLB mini-jam which works so beautifully here and makes this one unique. (At least I can't think of another version that does this--if anyone knows of one please direct me to it)--but this is a gem of an idea & is pulled off so well before they start jamming the more traditional way at the end. Very good version beyond that btw but the MLB jam is an upvote worthy easter egg
Bird Song
Aug. 12, 1972
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Good as advertised--if you like spacey gooey jammed out Birdsongs this one is waiting for you with open wings
Jack Straw
Oct. 18, 1983
Cumberland County Civic Center

Awesome reverb/whammy effects into & out of the final stanza--as mentioned above this is some of Bob's finest rhythm work you'll ever hear on this tune. Under the radar version from an equally underappreciated show
Might As Well
Oct. 2, 1976
Riverfront Arena

Super tight version most notable for A+ vocals by Jerry--not always his strong point-- but belts this one out & lyrics all nailed down here... new DaP53 has Keith up in the mix and sounding great too. End jam is a little clunky if you wanna take off a quarter point (not nearly as rocked out as 10/29/77 by comparison) but this is one of the cleanest renditions of the tune I've ever heard. Def. worth some more votes