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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


Submissions

9
Bertha
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

Warp speed, precise, slightly unhinged, and driving into the greenish-blue evening.
1
Jack Straw
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Godchaux leads a version that seethes with the excitement of a new song.
2
Brown Eyed Women
May 20, 1973
U.C.

A giggly, slangy Garcia masterpiece (in sweet show sauce). Goes down EZ.
8
Mexicali Blues
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

So good you can practically see the border town.
8
Me and My Uncle
Nov. 17, 1971
Albuquerque Civic Auditorium

Two things: (1) the middle of a searing Other One > MAMU > Other One fest and (2) Garcia loses his mind (or mine) at the end of the solo.

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.