Energetic, serene AND Garcia's break is pure ragtime gold. In a good TJ, the guitar is a character. Here: a little insolent. Quality.

That spacious, unadorned June 1976 sound is so perfect for The Wheel. This one's dynamic and delivered with feeling. Cool show.

Oh man: LISTEN! Vocals are mixed a bit high, but this Cumberland has all the important "little" details. Notes the quotes. B'AM!!!!

1976: Your standard issue tipsy, warm-hearted TJ of the period. The guitar break is more conversation than guitar solo. Standard but special.

Spare, almost vulnerable take on this classic. Godchaux brings the church and Garcia brings the stained glass. An American beauty.

Probably my favorite post-69. One of my favorites. Period. Floating on air. Great contrast to the '69 vintage. A treat.

Pretty enchanting. This is a very specific period of the Dead with its own kind of juice. They never really sounded like this again. You can hear the space and the dynamics of 77-78, but with (1) Mydland keeping it tasteful and (2) a little more grind. Maybe the new guitar added some girth. + Also such a nice excursion before the bridge - as sweet as any I've heard.

When I vote for a song, I'm not necessarily saying I think it's the best ever. Even if I do think this version is the best ever (and it might be), I don't like being told by someone who doesn't share that view that I think so because of X. You really have no idea. + When I first heard this tape in the mid-80s, it was not famous (at least that I knew of). I had already fallen for May 1977 based on a decent SBD of 5/19 a friend of mind had. When I heard this Scarlet>Fire, I recall being blown away by the little details (Weir throwing in a China Cat lick into Fire, for instance) and I still think this version contains everything one could want from the pairing. If the seamless transition is "boring" to some, OK. To me, it's hypnotic. Best ever? No clue here - there are certainly other Spring 77s that give this a run, but this is the one that opened me up to the possibilities of the pairing. + I don't think many (if any) post Spring 77 Scarlet>Fires touch this or the other ones played in April-May 1977. To my ears & taste, these are as close to perfect as I know. After this period (in general), the drums became flubbier, Garcia kept omitting/forgetting the 4th verse, Lesh's bass became muddier and less insistent, and some overall sloppiness often crept in. None of these issues touch Spring 77 for the most part. For my $.

Yes - this deserves more rapt attention. The whole show does, but this is such a conversational Playin'. A precision instrument at times.

Standard issue Europe 72 Tennessee Jed, which is to say: beyond reproach.