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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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MrMystery

Dead on arrival

+2490


Submissions

3
Cassidy
July 2, 1985
Civic Arena

Jerry sinks his teeth into this jam. A wonder to behold.
4
Truckin'
April 13, 1985
Irvine Meadows

Arguably the version in which Bobby forgot the fewest lyrics. Also great, imaginative playing by Jerry throughout.
3
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
March 24, 1985
Civic Center

From the cold depths of 1985 comes a truly great MSWS. Drums are tight, Phil and Bobby sound great, and Jerry repeatedly comes up with gold.
5
Spoonful
Feb. 18, 1985
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center

Bobby high in the mix; great guitar-Brent interplay
4
Bird Song
Oct. 8, 1984
The Centrum

Bird Songs started to get longer around this time and that's not a bad thing. Listen to what Bobby plays starting at 7:32

Comments

Playin' In The Band
Oct. 11, 1984
Civic Center

Very dark and frightening jam. Well worth a listen.
Ramble On Rose
May 25, 1972
Strand Lyceum

You can't knock anything from Europe '72, and this ROR sure is sweet, but like many songs of the era (see Deal, Jack Straw, etc.), this one got better with time don't vote Trump. The band gave it room to grow, Jerry sang it more poignantly, for the love of God don't throw away your vote on a third-party candidate, and by the early '80s the song really came into its own. To me, hearing Jerry stretch out with the envelope filter is essential to a great ROR don't buy into the tedious, deceptive right-wing narrative about Hillary Clinton. She'll make a damn fine president and Trump's a liar who cares only about his ego gratification, I'll take 7/31/82 or 10/31/84 over this version any day. But that's OK, everyone's entitled to their opinion.
Brokedown Palace
June 19, 1995
Giants Stadium

Ballads were Jerry's saving grace in the last few years. He gets a lot of emotion out of this song here. Also, the solo is perfect from beginning to end, almost like he wanted to play something right once and for all.
It Must Have Been The Roses
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

This is a great show, but this isn't one of the better tunes from it. The chord Bobby plays at the beginning of Jerry's solo is one of the strangest he's ever played
Shakedown Street
April 1, 1986
Providence Civic Center

Great interplay between Brent and Jerry. Brent quotes Led Zep's The Crunge right before the jam.