Donna is hot hot hot

My 1st. Hard to not love your first still...

Hands down the best ever version between '76 - '78 (it's actually the only 1978 performance). Jerry's noodling during the intro defines the purpose of noodling at all. The rich tone of the Wolf, and the gentle piano rhythm of one Mr. Keith Gotshow takes the listener on a magic carpet ride through a sunny and cloud filled nitrous atmosphere, high in the sky....this intro is my favorite two minutes of Grateful Dead music. Dicks Picks 18.

That dreamy passage from 3:45 - 5:45 approx, is fantastic. It was here that someone recommended this version, and it led me to my first Daves Picks purchase on ebay. After investigating the matter, I determine that they didn't start playing it like this until late 77. There's a good one on Road Trips 77. Dick's Picks 18 is also really good. But this is the best to my ears, as Bobby and Keith just hold down the rhythm, while Jerry picks away in some hybrid psychedelic blue grass mode that only he possesses. I noticed 5/9/77 is close to this one in vote count, but I don't know that it's in the same ballpark without that huge arrangement I mentioned. We'll see when we get shown the light.

Yes, the outro jam is fantastic, if this is the bonus disc version. Dnot get me wrong, the whole thing is great, I'm just saying don't miss out on the ending. I don't understand why 1972 versions don't rate higher here. If I made a top 10 list, all 5 from the Europe '72 tour would be here, plus this one. I suspect the one from DP 36 too.

This is the smoothest version, with the best Rio Grandin section. 5/17 and 5/12 are also close. 9/3 not so much, but has the big jam. I'm not sure what cgarces was listening to, but I wouldn't skip this one on his recommendation. I will cede to 9/3 on best overall, but this is my fav.