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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 11, 1989
Meadowlands Arena

Bob's lyric phrasing on this version is unique. He sings it in a way so different than any I've heard before & it's inventive & super-fun. Must hear!
7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.
6
The Other One
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Short but raging. Look beyond the length & enjoy for the fire within. Jerry attacks this from the get-go & it's awesome.
2
Truckin'
Dec. 12, 1993
San Diego Sports Arena

Anybody else hear a very distinctive riff of Steely Dan's "Black Friday" in the intro?
5
Sugar Magnolia
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Just listen & you will believe. End jam before SSDD is a tidal wave of sound & power & beauty. A true must hear.

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
April 2, 1973
Boston Garden

New Dap #21 shows off in best sound quality how good this version really is. Feeling Groovy jam just emerges out of thin air, wafting in like a gentle breeze and continuing seamlessly into IKYR. Outstanding version, should be much higher.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Dec. 11, 1972
Winterland Arena

^^^^ One reason I prefer this version to 8/2/172 is that this one has some musical separation between the "across the rio grand-ee-o" section. 8/2/172 launches straight into it after the "on my way" lyric and it's pretty jarring, especially since--another slight drawback to these '72's--Donna isn't exactly in tune, nor is Phil. Might seem a nit-pick point, but this version here has a nice little musical bridge before they launch across the lazy river, and that section is also better sung than 8/21/72 is.
Eyes Of The World
Aug. 30, 1978
Red Rocks Ampitheatre

What this is doing still hanging down around here in single digit votes is anyone's guess. I'm going on the theory that of the 3 versions on the archive, 2 of them have a brutal cut in the first jam break of this tune. But, problem solved: There's a Miller version (2nd set only) that has restored the cut section and what you're left with is a nearly 17 minute version that is one of the mellowest, but also jazziest and wonderfully flowing versions ever. I've already voted for this version and commented now twice, so I'm done, but honestly, this is a way better version than its spot on the ladder would indicate.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 26, 1995
Memorial Stadium

The Fire is good, but the rest is nothing special, not to mention botched lyrics by Jerry in the Scarlet. No upvote here and no way do I get where its placement on the list is. Just because it's good for '95 doesn't mean it should be listed higher than so many dozens of other versions that are by any objective measure better.
Spanish Jam
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Love the way Bobby seamlessly blends the Other One theme (which precedes this) in the first minute or so of the tune. This is a splendid reading overall as well.