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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

34
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Nov. 6, 1977
Broome County Arena

Outstanding version with a nice Jerry-led jam early in the tune, after the first verse.
8
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 15, 1978
Sphinx Theatre

Almost criminal this isn't here yet. Grab the Egypt '78 CD & hear one of the loveliest "Eyes" ever. Jazzy, intricate, sweet, & inspired!
13
Loser
Oct. 14, 1977
Hofheinz Pavilion

Possibly the most underrated version of all time with an absolute MONSTER jam by Jerry. Must listen!
8
Looks Like Rain
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Listen closely: I HATE THIS SONG. Always have. So when I say this is killer it means a lot; & fans of this song tell me it's legendary.
18
Row Jimmy
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

After 3/20/77 and 4/12/78 this may be the best RJ ever. Check out the Miller version that fills in a tape-flip gap & revel in more Garcia magic.

Comments

Eyes Of The World
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

What is this doing in the single digits of vote counting? Look, I get that 1974 is filled with oodles of awesome EYES. I get it. But even by '74 standards this one deserves to be up there with the best of them, at the very least in terms of flow and glide and ease of the jamming. Just listen to the intro alone on this one. It's a stream on consciousness river of ideas, but smooth like silk all at once. The whole version just glides along on wings and when it shifts to the outro material it's laser sharp on all the turns, stops and starts. They played 2 pretty amazing shows at this venue--this one and 6/22/73. This EYES is one of the highlights of the former.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Upvoted for all the reasons listed already but also for the superior vocals. Everyone's in tune, and it's sung with gusto by Jerry. Crystal clear, and of course the jamming is spectacular.
Box of Rain
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

One of the better live versions done. Phil doesn't try to over-sing and neither does Donna. They nail all the verses and it's a tight little ditty that still retains the loveliness of the tune.
Spanish Jam
Aug. 28, 1981
Long Beach Arena

Gritty dig-deep fuzz-guitar Garcia magic.
Bertha
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

Underrated for sure. There's a Glassberg MOTB recording on the archive that's pretty great for an AUD and there's no reason for a May '77 Bertha to be as overlooked as this one has. Mellow but with flowing Jerry-led jams. Excellent version.