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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

2
Candyman
July 12, 1976
Orpheum Theater

Spare, almost vulnerable take on this classic. Godchaux brings the church and Garcia brings the stained glass. An American beauty.
5
Estimated Prophet
Jan. 30, 1978
Uptown Theater

You can hear the swagger in their mutterings before they play. And the performance bears that out. Sure, smooth, and effortless.
1
It Must Have Been The Roses
Aug. 4, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Center

Letter perfect - the Godchauxs take this to a loftier level. Beautiful dynamic push-and-pull by the whole group.
3
Tennessee Jed
May 25, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Planting the Flag of Civilization on this tight scorcher. New from factory - Inspector #9. Under penalty of law, this tag may not be YEAH GARCIA!
5
Candyman
Jan. 31, 1978
Uptown Theater

Dreamy, motionless rendition on a sea of individual human reactions [audience tape]. A wonderful time for this gem.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Feb. 5, 1978
Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa

This one has some cool moments, but it's sooooo fast - takes most of the swing out of it. There are points where the drummers lose the thread or go into a rather homely shuffle b/c the pace is so breakneck. And I have an issue with so many '78 Scarlets b/c Garcia always seems (as he does here) to forget the verse after the bridge and go directly into the guitar break. For whatever reason, that irks. Somewhat indicative to some of the sloppiness that crept in @ late-77/78. I just don't believe this compares at all to any May '77 versions, which are models of both heat and precision. Not an awful version by any means - some of it's great, but #2 on the list? That's just insane to me.
Wharf Rat
Nov. 15, 1972
Oklahoma City Music Hall

Beautiful work here. Lesh, in particular, sounds imbedded. The outro jam is a stunner.
St. Stephen
April 21, 1969
The Ark

What a St. Stephen should be.
Tennessee Jed
March 28, 1972
Academy of Music

They use this thrust to get them over the ocean. Assured, brash, model version. Great pace and totally in control. And yeah - Garcia's Strat.
Uncle John's Band
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Like seemingly everything from this show, this is a Cutty Sark beast. A song that doesn't always come off live (this spans most of their career for me, much as I love this song) the 5/19 Fox version hits all the targets. Lesh dots all the eyes and crosses all the teez. Kruetzmann is just swinging. This is one of the all-time great sets. Ever.