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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.
11
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.

Comments

Aiko Aiko
Aug. 30, 1978
Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Yes! Love this vastly underrated version! Has that great 1978 swagger to it and some funk on the side. Phenomenal "Eyes" from this show as well.
Playin' In The Band
June 16, 1974
Iowa State Fairgrounds

About to harsh everyone's mellow talking about how much I hate this version and to a lesser extent how overrated this entire show is. But first, let's discuss this train wreck, which begins with Keith's keyboard sounding like it's short circuited in the opening stanzas, but he keeps hitting the keys anyway, creating a nails on the blackboard-like monotone buzz noise that makes you palpably yearn for his acoustic piano to miraculously appear, but it never does. Then we get into the "jam" portion which consists of nothing interesting at all...a kind of lazy meander with no color or purpose until Jerry/Ned/Phil/whoever start trying to see who can play the most annoying screechfest of cacophony for the longest amount of time. It's not a melt down or a space exploration, it's just bad fucking noise and it goes on for far too long and is in no way saved by any kind of elegant re-entry into the main theme, and to top it off, there's the patented Donna off key caterwauling that sounds like Jerry accidentally stamped on her foot. This whole show is inexplicably held in high regard when almost every tune that's exalted is full of slop and tinny Wall of Sound reproduction. This might be the worst PITB of 1974 and the show itself is the dregs of the year, especially compared with so many better entries such as the February and October Winterland runs. Don't waste your time with this one, although with nearly 30 votes already I can see my kvetching is falling on deaf ears.
Truckin'
Aug. 25, 1972
Berkeley Community Theatre

Excellent vocals (never a given), well jammed outro section...fun Phil solo (not too long) & into TOO. Upvote
Days Between
Dec. 11, 1994
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

^^^^i I have to agree. A lot of heads I respect swear this song is the last great one I they ever wrote but I don't see it. Seems like a chore for the band to get through not to mention Jerry's really plain awful vocal croaking...his voice by this time simply couldn't handle this kind of dirge. The song itself is so devoid of rhythm or melody and is almost atonal. Just terrible stuff
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 22, 1982
Greek Theatre - University of California

Absolutely needs to climb the ladder. Top tier 1982 played with speed but also precision, Garcia's playing more fluid than choppy and the whole band in step. Energy sustains throughout and crystal clear board on source provided doesn't hurt either. Plus one.