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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

6
They Love Each Other
Nov. 4, 1979
Civic Center

Early in Brent's tenure he's locked in for the 1st part of a long, flowing instrumental mid-section. Jer doesn't disappoint either. Underrated version
11
Crazy Fingers
April 3, 1990
The Omni

Very strong entry w/no lyrical mistakes & Jerry in fine voice, esp. for the year. Crystal clean sound from '90 spring box set shows how good this is!
14
Brokedown Palace
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

This melts like a dream from a weirdly underrated Dark Star & is sung beautifully by Jerry & played sweetly by all. Give a listen!
7
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 20, 1991
Boston Garden

Ok technically it's Help>Slipknot>Fire but c'mon that's pretty cool & even w/out the novelty of the change-up it's a sweet version
11
Take A Step Back
Oct. 31, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Phil: "Remember, if you step up too close We'll HAVE TO STOP PLAYING. Weir: I would remind you all that Halloween is not a legal holiday"

Comments

Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

^^^^ "You know it well!" -Phil
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 30, 1973
Kiel Auditorium

There isn't any earthly reasn this should be so low on the board, other than it occurs in a year with so many incredible versions it can get lost in the shuffle. But this one needs more ears on it, especially for the outro section, which is mellower then most but hits every transition in the jam segments like a smooth sliding gear change, then empties out into a free floating gentle space before settling into the opening notes of Weather Report. Astonishingly excelllent EYES hiding in plain sight at single digit votes.
Sugaree
March 18, 1977
Winterland Arena

As good as advertised
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 11, 1978
Fox Theatre

Might sound crazy to upvote an entire combo of songs just for the coda that ends one of them, but the final jam of Fire back into the main Scarlet theme is worth it. Just a Garcia pinpoint perfect clinic of roaring crescendos and all-in rocking. It's not that the preceding stuff is bad in any way, but 3/4 of the way thru you could be forgiven for thinking this isn't a stand out version in any real way. Then that final flurry hits ya, and wowza, that's a keeper.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 5, 1979
Madison Square Garden

^^^^yeah, I gotta agree, this is far to good to have less than a handful of votes. Great expeditions take place in the transition jam and this is early in Brent's tenure before he resorted to the Fischer Price keyboard tinkling that marred some later versions. The Fire is pretty incendiary, too. Nice Miller SBD available. Check it out.