Jerry rips; classic summer 71

A laid back one. Phil's bass and Billy in the groove.

Everyone is on for this one. Great vocals, even by Donna. Why isn't this getting any love?

Phil: duly noted. Now available on Dave's Picks 51. Way better than the vote would indicate. I also dig Billy on this, and Jerry's vocal is quite excellent.

Jerry's playing here makes this one unique. I think this entire show is severely underrated. Okay, I'll admit it: I dig 71 because: I prefer one drummer; the absence of the long come-on Pig raps after the spring shows; and no Donna. This made for a very tight unit that was perfecting all those songs Garcia/Hunter/Weir/Barlow were writing. When Keith shows up later in the year, it's also without Donna. I don't miss the frequent Dark Stars (although they did do 12 of them in 71; I'm more of an OO fan, actually). It's a great year for Hard to Handle and it's interesting to hear Pig as the only keyboardist on all those new songs. And Phil is mixed high, especially on those summer shows.

At the four minute mark, JG throws down the gauntlet. Can you play this fast with me? Everyone in Winterland must have been drippin'.

uh, Keith. really, this low?

this here is your go-to roadhouse blues version. its excellence is.