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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

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.

Comments

Black Throated Wind
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

Gotta give it up for this one. So crisp and just exactly perfect. Sounds almost like it's right off of ACE but w/the added emotion and push of the live performance.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Oct. 14, 1977
Hofheinz Pavilion

Hey Sleuth i'd go further and say Fall '77 surpasses spring (OK, by barely a nose, but still)...I just think the fall tour had more of a rocking edge to it than spring did w/out losing any of the precision of the spring shows. 10/29/77 (all of it), 11/6/77 (Truckin',), October shows like this one and 10/7 (WharfRat/Sugar Mag) and of course the whole end of year Winterland run, are just phenomenal, peak performances.
Eyes Of The World
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

I'm only whining about this yet again b/c I'm writing this on the 37th anniversary of its debut, on 5/18/14. To beat the proverbial "dead" horse, this is too damn good to be wallowing at (as of now) 4 votes.
Dark Star
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

It really sounded different to me than any MLB type jam I've heard. Something just unique about it, and so ridiculously sweet. The whole experience listening to it thru just floored me. (It was the perfect other companion while taking a long hike thru the woods with real Grendel.) Next project is Rotterdam, altho I don't know how to get it since I don't have the full E'72 trunk set. Maybe I'll purchase that individual show if u think it's worth it.
Greatest Story Ever Told
May 7, 1972
Bickershaw Festival

New order for my top 3 has this one moved up to 2d place, behind 9/28/72 but ahead of Veneta. Jam in this one's just too good.