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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

Can't believe what short shrift this show gets. They pull off the combo like gangbusters here.
5
Loser
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Glorious Jerry vocals, not one, but TWO "sweet Susie's", excellent gritty solo. Best early version ever!
4
Aiko Aiko
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Submitting this on Fat Tuesday 2017. Great Mardi Gras version with really nice piano (!) fills by Brent that oughta be heard!
5
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

Get on this one, folks. It's a ripper.
13
Let It Grow
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Absolute best of 1974. Not kidding. Jerry's leads are ripping & confident. The band plays flawlessly.Can stand w/some of the best of '77. Must hear.

Comments

Shakedown Street
Nov. 24, 1978
Capitol Theatre

Such great improv jamming by Garcia post lyrics. Tight, funky uber 70s verses up top. One of the best early versions if not the numero uno in that category already.
Bertha
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

This is so spectacular and just a hair's breadth behind my all time favorite 10/29/77. Joyous middle jam by Jerry and Billy and Mickey are in full out beast mode. 5 stars.
Shakedown Street
Nov. 29, 1980
Alligator Alley Gym, University of Florida

One of the great AUDs available on the archive (Miller) & a spectacular, funked out version that I can swear has what sounds like a mini-Feel Like A Stranger jam post-lyrics. Segue into Franklin's is sweet although Jerry comes in too quick on the first line.
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

Listening to this one again and some things: it really might be best ever; if not it's Top 5 all time and the six votes it has now makes a mockery of what we're supposed to be doing here; there's no doubt in my mind this kicks Barton to the curb.
Jack A Roe
March 27, 1994
Nassau Coliseum

I don't normally care for this tune post 1977, really preferring the old style Mark Knopfler-ish slow cadence, slinky approach so perfectly captured by 5/17/77 on the "Phil Zone" release, but this fast-picking version with Jerry doing the acoustic/electric thing and nailing all the lyrics deserves the upvote. This whole show as cgarces has pointed out is chock full of surprisingly grand renditions especially given the year. The Dew from this show gets all the accolades but there's a lot more to like here, and this Roe is one of the gems.