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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


Submissions

4
Loser
July 31, 1971
Yale Bowl, Yale University

Garcia crushes the guitar break and everything else.
2
Candyman
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Warm, gooey, and dynamic.
2
Jack Straw
July 22, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theatre

Casually Regal - An Eatery
16
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

Crackling with energy. Tight as a single drummer.
5
Estimated Prophet
Sept. 28, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Garcia skipping to the lou in warm stereo ooze

Comments

Tennessee Jed
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Snaps like a Twix! Much like one of my favorites 10/26/71, this Jed pulsates, squirms, and whirls like a dervish. Super enthusiasm for a hot new song. Garcia's Strat is particularly strident and bratty. And high speed!
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Oct. 9, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Confident, brash, authoritative. A classic version (with a killer S&D tucked inside as a special treat). Great show.
Tennessee Jed
Aug. 2, 1976
Colt Park

I actually like the plodding '76 TJs. Moreover, I love that Garcia's guitar breaks often sound like the town drunk careening down Main Street. This one has some real life, too, b/c the crowd is waaaay into it. Love that.
Jack Straw
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

How did I just start focusing on this one? Perfectly paced, clean as a fucking bean, spacey, Garcia-crazy - it's all in place. Everyone lends just the right touch.
Estimated Prophet
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

Restaurant Quality. One of the ultimate Estimateds in my mind - perfect representation of this song (should probably be the version on Terrapin), but way more than that. Right up there w/5/19 for me. Pick 'em. Both Garcia-led codas are exemplars in my world.