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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

7
Big River
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Segues perfectly out of MAMU and rolls along beautifully til Jerry goes ballistic on the last solo. Must hear.
5
China Cat Sunflower
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Nice early stand alone with a long intro. You can hear the transition from the old intro to the more familiar pickings of later versions.
5
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Not really a darkness jam but more of a dark star jam than what it's listed as (PITB) leads into Wharf Rat & is beyond beautiful.
8
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

The boys really "throw a mess" on this one, making the carrier dome sound like a down and dirty old time saloon. Slinky sick stuff
2
Row Jimmy
April 18, 1987
Irvine Meadows

Check out Jerry's "giddy-up" riffs in the final "Row" choruses!

Comments

Morning Dew
May 26, 1972
Strand Lyceum

@LuckyKentucky All the vocals on the original Europe '72 release were dubbed in later as post-production in studio. I believe 5/26 is the version that appears on Europe '72 but the vocals are dubbed.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

This one is a joy to listen to. Feels acoustic even tho' it's electric...like a jug band version in some ways and Jerry's sweet vocals are perfect. Great rendition when you want something different than the ballad-like slow versions.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

This one is a joy to listen to. Feels acoustic even tho' it's electric...like a jug band version in some ways and Jerry's sweet vocals are perfect. Great rendition when you want something different than the ballad-like slow versions.
Eyes Of The World
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

Agree this version gets overlooked. Spun it again the other day and was mesmerized by the flowing, beautiful near 4 minute intro alone and the rest is pretty great too. It doesn't reach the jamming intensity of 10/29/77 or the intricate jazz signatures of some '73 and '74 versions but I bumped it up here for its under-ratedness. It is worthy!
Shakedown Street
April 17, 1982
Hartford Civic Center

More votes indeed. This version is so smooth and well-executed it may get overlooked for not being as "explosive" as some others--like, perhaps, the vastly (IMHO) overrated 6-30-85. Compare that with Jerry's far silkier and confident vocals in this version, and the terrific jazz feel that floats this one along on wings, and you'll see. Brent and Jerry also play off each other beautifully here and the whole band is on target. 1982 was a great year for Shakedown and this is one of its best.