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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24523


Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Sept. 27, 1976
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Keith shines on a long, flowing intro section that spills into space-mellow Rat-Goodness
14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
5
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
38
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 20, 1981
Rainbow Theater

Total winner right here--thick, jammy Scarlet with a fantastic transition into a rippin' Fire. Sounds amazing on the new release. Rhythm Devils especially come out slugging in the end coda jam to fire - sick slick version right here that deserves to shoot way up the ladder
They Love Each Other
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Bump needed here. It's understandable how this could get lost in a sea of great versions from this year but this one's worthy of seeking out. Perfect funky pacing and a great jam in the middle. Jer plays w/the bridge lyric a bit: "every song I'm singing I heard it first from you" instead of the usual line. Should at least be dub-digits here.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Aug. 5, 1979
Oakland Auditorium Arena

weaknesses in the Scarlet yes, but upping this because I can't recall another version in which the transition into Fire recalls the main Scarlet theme so prominently and once they get into Fire Jerry gets down to it with some great fuzzy gritty notes on the intro and everyone else kinda falls into that sweet Fire pocket--unique for sure as NFA sez and worth a boost on the board
Row Jimmy
Sept. 9, 1974
Alexandra Palace

^^^^Not necessarily "more" relaxing but for being definitely in that sweet/mellow wheelhouse I'd recommend 9/18/74 and the lesser known but equally as beautiful 7/25/74
Ramble On Rose
Feb. 1, 1978
Uptown Theatre

More proof this board works. Never knew of this version (much less what looks like a pretty cool show--i'll have to dive in) until i saw the recent recs--much thanks--and yeah this is a grand ol' Jerry having a blast belting it out barn burner with the hard edged rock em sock em rhythm devils backing you got in '78. 2 pretty nice board sources available too--worth checking out