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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

5
The Weight
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

This is really the best one I've heard--everyobody nails their parts/lyrics...great piano fills on the side (yay, Bruce!). Just exactly, etc.
20
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 11, 1989
Meadowlands Arena

Bob's lyric phrasing on this version is unique. He sings it in a way so different than any I've heard before & it's inventive & super-fun. Must hear!

Comments

Playin' In The Band
Dec. 28, 1991
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Especially impressed with this version, given that most latter day PITB's felt like throwaways with a lot of Jerry noodling & little focus or purpose other than getting into the next tune after some meandering, but this one melts beautifully into "Same Thing" after getting a seamless entry from a nice, if somewhat placid UJB prior, and feels self-contained in its mellow but interesting musical exploration. Glad I checked this out and the UJB>PITB>SameThing Trifecta (they do need to be taken as a triplet piece for best effect) is worthy of more attention.
Samson and Delilah
Feb. 5, 1978
Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa

This has a lot in common with the Casey Jones from 10/2/77 in that they both benefit from--and become better because of-- an error. Here, it's the failure of Bob's mic that necessitates a longer intro jam that Jerry just decides to take into the outer reaches of intensity and into shredding legend....I'm not sure it's necessarily the "best" version ever (I still like 5/13/77) but it's a top shelf version for sure b/c of how they turned lemons into lemonade with Bourbon...it's a great save and a really great accomplishment how they handled it. (The Casey Jones from 10/2/77 similarly takes the occasion of Jerry forgetting a lyric to go into an extended bridge jam highlighted by a lovely Keith solo that no other version contains, and ultimately it emerges as what many agree is the best CJ ever.)
Big River
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

Yes indeed...I was pumped about the boxed set mostly for 5/13 and 5/17 but was more than pleasantly surprised by 5/11..I'll still put the Sugaree from that show up against any of the monsters from that year or any other.
Big River
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

Great rendition, extra points for St. Paul getting props in St. Paul
Sugar Magnolia
June 11, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Hidden gem alert, from a show that's beautiful and shy and gets little attention due to its more famous sibling just 2 days prior, but wow! This Sugar Mag might just be THE best of the June '76 shows, and that's saying something. It's got to be the most intense mellow jam I've ever heard on this tune, if that makes any sense. Jerry's guitar just floats notes on a string and it rolls along innocently beautiful and then the jam just takes off after the last verse and charges headlong to a great finish while never losing its laid-back vibe. It's kind of like everything that's great about 1976 encapsulated in this one tune & it needs to be checked out and bumped way up. And you get the added bonus of it going into a sweet Eyes before rounding back to Stella & then the SSDD coda. Terrific version that surprised and delights all at once.