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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


Submissions

13
Bird Song
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

An intimate very early Bird Song - Quartet-styled, which serves this song really well. Also: you can hear the thinking, especially between guitars.
3
Tennessee Jed
July 21, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theater

Ho-Hum: Another outstanding 1972 TJ. This gem from the sorta overlooked summer tour. Garcia aces the break, natch. Band - unconscious. Whew! at end.
6
Candyman
June 21, 1976
Tower Theater

From Garcia's cheeky intro on, this graceful cabochon throws a faint, warm light. 1976 elegance w/a sick, raw spider web guitar break.
2
Wharf Rat
March 21, 1985
Hampton Coliseum

First show - I didn't know this gem very well & after this criss-crossy version, I was hooked. Dark & murky.
3
Loser
July 21, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theater

Download Series - An intimate, casual living room Loser. Garcia coming out of the guitar break is divine. Not the actor.

Comments

Estimated Prophet
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Obvious though it might be, 5/8/77 delivers again. A Top 3 or 4 Estimated in my estimation. See - what I did . . . 5/19 is the gold standard for me, but I don't think this one lags in any form or fashion. Garcia's underwater coda is perfection.
Eyes Of The World
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

The white Bean leads the way. Lovely, silky version in all its 76exiness.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

A showcase. For the Grateful Dead's stormy countenance, for Garcia's Strat, for the loose-limbed, twitchy jazzbo blitz that makes 1973 a peak year. These early '73 shows sort of stand by themselves. Definitely not 1972, but with an edge that softens as the year runs. + This is one of those performances that reminds me why the Strat was the #1 Garcia guitar. Nothing he couldn't make happen on that guitar. Hooooofa!
Dark Star
March 28, 1969
Student Center

Love this Dark Star out of the chute - sunny, bold, and steady as she goes. Slides in different moods, but never loses its forward momentum. This Dark Star should probably be higher up on the hit parade. It truly embodies 1969 sunshine.
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

A swirling masterpiece. I had this on as background for some research I was trying to do. Would not stay in the background. Garcia's wah edge work is supreme. The entire group reads the terrain together.