Garciia packs epic multitudes into his brief guitar solo. Check out this WAY under the radar MAMU>BigRiver pairing. One of the best ever.

Slowest but also funkiest version ever played. Garcia stumbles out of the gates on lyrics but it's no train wreck & the band rescues for a winner

Bruce is boss on this one, his keys just adding color & style throughout the tune. Overlooked show & performance

Numerous "Lively Up Yourself" teases within this short space--follows a "He's Gone" dedicated to Bob Marley

Kicking intro out of Dancin'>Drums and into a typically raucous, rippin', 1978 Samson. You'll dig it for the into alone but the whole thing is a beast

Not sure why I hadn't added a vote to this Gah-den Eyes 'til now but it deserves one. Reminiscent of the excellent version from 3/19/77 that also starts "cold" and just takes off into sweet jammy exploration, but I had forgotten about the nearly 3 minute intro section...yes, this is a slightly faster version (nothing like 11/4/77, though) but it still manages to take some time to find some really tasty nooks and crannies, especially in the intro section. Boston can sometimes be the Jan Brady to Cornell & Buffalo's Marsha/Cyndi dynamic, if you can follow that analogy, but there's a lot worth seeking out in that middle sister show. (In other words, I can hear Boston complaining "Ithaca, Ithaca, Ithaca! That's all anyone ever talks about!")

Gem hidden. Gem found. What's amazing about this '71 beauty is how full and spacey and just how, well, Dark-Star-Ish this sounds even with the most stripped-down version of the band that ever took the stage. Garcia teases the main theme so many times before finally singing the verse and they all find these really interesting spaces in between to play with & Keith is very present to add some twinkling star feels to the proceedings. Excellent version that should get into the higher reaches of the list if more people heard it.

^^^^Agreed. Tight, energetic and better sung than most.

Twirler's paradise. No dissonance or melt-down madness here, just corkscrew wah-wah Jerry jazz lines surrounded by really innovative Weir-led rhythm sections...a complete band mind-meld of swirling colors and ideas and a sweet re-entry to the reprise. Just outstanding and seriously under-rated on the Big Board. Hoping that will change with more ears on the new DaP.

^^^^I know! Still freaking out about it...an official release of my favorite all time show!