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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

1
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 27, 1990
The Zenith

Can't fathom how this A+ 90s version, with a gorgeous, relaxed tempo & delicate Garcia touches throughout hadn't made the list Great show, great EYES
7
Althea
June 12, 1980
Memorial Coliseum

Just a great, grooving, bluesy Althea. Everyone right in the pocket. Find the exceptional Miller SBD & enjoy.
2
Bird Song
July 21, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theater

Download Series Vol. 10. This version is sparkling. Everything you expect out of a great '72 w/cool OR. vibe. Beautiful midsong drum break & much more
1
Aiko Aiko
Feb. 23, 1993
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Hey Now! Played on Mardi Gras day with 10 minute drum percussion lead-in to start the 2nd set! You'll like what the Big Chief say.
3
Space
March 16, 1990
Capital Centre

Not Space, but since there's no category for "jam" this beautiful calypso improv out of WomenRsmarter will have to do (also has an "Eyes" tease)

Comments

He's Gone
Sept. 8, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

Keith sounds lovely on this version esp. with the official release sound. This show overall really doesn’t stand out to me & i would rate this DaP pretty low on the ladder of officially released shows but this version of HG is def. worthy of upvote.
Let Me Sing Your Blues Away
Sept. 8, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

sorry, folks--but if we're being truly honest & objective here this is a complete embarrassment & damn near un-listenable. The :harmonies" by all involved are enough to make singers the world over weep & jump off a building. This song is not terrible as a song (the only real decent version is from the studio album) but performed live it is a train wreck piled onto a dumpster fire. We all love this band but truth be told they sometimes performed stuff live that was simply out of their vocal range abilities & this is an unfortunate example. (another would be Bobby trying to hit the high notes in "Blackbird" from that show in 1988--fortunately he never tried it again). I know we WANT everything they do to be magical, but this is a crime against ears ..., it just is.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 8, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

No such thing as a poor Eyes from ‘73 & this one’s noticeably mellower than the night before, but neither to my ears are leaps and bounds above other versions from earlier in the year. Not much intro jamming before first verse and while it’s sweet stuff in between the following verses the jams are also pretty short, as they save the bulk of the jamming for the outro section. Prefer versions like 6/10/73 where Jerry does more exploring before we get to the outro portion.
The Wheel
July 16, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

darkstar^^^good point that while a lot of wheels are spacey build-ups (& great they are) this one stands out for getting right into the theme but w/out sacrificing the ethereal moody mellowness of the tune. As Ernie noted as well some very distinguishable eastern influences make this a slightly different & wonderful version.
Let It Grow
Sept. 7, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

Was this really the live debut? If so, up there with the best “first evers” of all time. Jammed out & jazzy & rolls into a stellar Stella.