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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

31
Let It Grow
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

The most "Spanish-flavored" of LIG's, evokes old southwest almost Mariachi vibe. Brilliant Garcia changes-Rise&Fall!
25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
46
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
30
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
15
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.

Comments

Sugaree
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

From the best show of 1982. Worthy.
Row Jimmy
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Languishing down the end of the list, with not a single vote when I found it, is one of the best Row Jimmy's from the year in which it was never performed better. I'm guessing because the only clean version (and it's a great SBD) is from "leftovers" of this show. But you need to find this version, you need to listen to it, you need to check out Jerry's second solo, and then you need to get this thing into the upper deck with the big versions where it belongs.
Feelin' Groovy Jam
Oct. 25, 1969
Winterland Arena

From one of my all time favorite Dark Stars. The sweetness right here.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Aug. 4, 1976
Roosevelt Stadium

If there's a slower-paced Help>Slip I've yet to hear it. It's a little disorienting at first...you keep waiting for it to pick up to a more familiar gait, but when you really let it settle in you start to realize they're smack dab in the pocket, and it's a great example of how this band never sat still, experimenting with different speeds and sounds all the time. As noted, Phil is driving this train, and no way is he high on cocaine. This is a patient, but funk-thick ride into Slipknot, which continues with a deliberate pace with elements of space, and then into maybe the best transition from Slip>Franklin's since 8/13/75. Check out how Billy and Mickey roll the fills in the Slipknot theme, and once they get into Franklin's the giddy-up is back and this version can run with any of the big boys of '77 and even passes a few of 'em. Points and upvote for originality and execution.
Cassidy
March 13, 1981
Utica Coliseum

You kidding me with this end jam? Can't let this sit so low on the ladder. Solid reading all the way thru, great Bobby vocals, and yeah, that end jam. This whole show seems to be given an undeserved short shrift.