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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

12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
42
Ramble On Rose
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Gorgeous, incredible, up and down, carnival-like bridge jam by Jerry. Picture perfect version--no flaws
43
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

April '78 S>F's often mentioned are 4/16 and 4/24 (rightly so) but this one is every bit as good. Superior transition jam--, beautiful, & powerful
94
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Starts out Jazzy, explorative, takes its time, 3 minute intro, then blasts off into the stratosphere with intense Garcia-led jamming

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.