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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

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
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

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.