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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
29
Candyman
Dec. 15, 1986
Oakland Coliseum Arena

Must hear b/c it's Jerry's first show back after the coma...crowd goes INSANE on "won't you tell everybody you meet that the Candyman's in town!"
14
Walking the Dog
April 8, 1985
The Spectrum

Midnite Hour>WTD>Big Boss Man to open the show-Wow!; Walkin' worth it just to hear Jerry sustain the vocal on "Pretty maids all in a Roooooooowww!"
9
I Need A Miracle
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Flawless deliver by Weir followed by extended, bluesy, gritty Garcia jam
80
Greatest Story Ever Told
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Greatest STEPHEN ever Told. Jerry rips into a "St.Stephen" jam in the bridge jam before the reprise. 2d only to 8/27

Comments

Big River
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Good, solid version and an underrated year for this song, although every version this year was a dress rehearsal for '77, peaking with 5/9/77
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Dude420 has this right...I've yet to hear a '77 version that has as much in common with a classic, mellow, flowing 1973 as this one does. It's most evident in the sweet sweet intro. The whole version has that liquidy feel of the debut year for this song. The instrumental break before the last verse has the closest thing to a hard jam you'll hear and it's pretty hot but overall this is not a version that tears things up, rather it's just a gorgeous and musically confident journey that ends with a solo Phil romp and deserves some more love. While I do feel this show is a bit overrated overall (the Terrapin especially, a travesty that it's listed as best ever), this EYES does not disappoint.
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
July 12, 1989
RFK Stadium

Superior jam between verses. Hornsby as noted is a great addition but Brent is spectacular too and Jerry goes way past midi to get after the true guitar grit in his soloing. Easily a top 3 version all time.
Uncle John's Band
Aug. 26, 1971
Gaelic Park

Five now. This is outstanding, surprisingly so for an early incarnation. Great confident in control outro jam. Up it.
Not Fade Away
July 4, 1989
Rich Stadium

^^^^ 100% true. NFA became a garbage late 2nd set throwaway in the late 80s with little jamming replaced by gimmicky hand clapping, crowd chanting and "Mmm-bop" repetition. This one has about 28 votes too many.