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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

2
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 4, 1982
Kiel Auditorium

Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.
43
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 30, 1977
The Palladium

Sick of saying "How can X not be here" yet but C'mon! Get the digital DL series and start bumpin this up! Smooth Scarlet, killer Fire jams. Early gem!
15
Terrapin Station
Nov. 28, 1980
Lakeland Civic Center

From a year not particularly known for great Terrapin, this one proves the exception to the rule. Tight, inventive, soulful.
6
Monkey and the Engineer
Feb. 4, 1970
Family Dog at the Great Highway

Bob sez: "we're gonna play one of your favorites and we certainly hope it's one of ours" b4 this sweet electric version!
19
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 7, 1977
University of New Mexico

As insanely good as the Wharf Rat that precedes it. How good? Almost matches 10/29/77 in intensity. Final jam section b4 SSDD will boggle your senses!

Comments

Feel Like A Stranger
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Agreed. There isn't much from this show that couldn't stand up as a #1 contender at the very least. Althea, Franklin's, Wheel, He's Gone--all stand outs from an amazing show & this Stranger--never a song that stood out to me--is pretty special here.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 20, 1974
Winterland Arena

It makes ZERO SENSE that this had only one vote when I came to it. What exactly in the name of Jerry is goin' on here? The ChinaCat here is so fluid and Jerry is throwing in tempo changes and extra notes all while holding the main theme somehow tighter than a drum...the rest of the band is right in line, having a blast...Phil's out front and Keith's just butter...then the transition jam charges into jazz city before back-dooring its way into a subtle FeelinGroovyJam intro, which then gets a smooth, elongated treatment before shifting into a rockin' Rider. I know there's a million great versions of this pairing from '72-'74 but even so this one NEEDS higher ranking and really belongs in a Top 5 conversation. Listen and then come back. I'll wait.
Jack A Roe
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

This and Jerry's laid-back, intricate notes in all the earliest versions always remind me of Mark Knopfler's sound and style. Check out any early Dire Straits tunes "Once Upon a Time in the West" or "In the Gallery" or really anything from their first two albums and you'll see what I mean.
Dark Star
Nov. 2, 1969
Family Dog at the Great Highway

Both grateful and embarrassed that I'm only just now coming around to how spectacular this Dark Star is! May have just surpassed 10/25 as my favorite of 1969...it's just what a Dark Star should be: beautiful, contemplative, jazzy, then at turns dark, mysterious, flowing, jamming, and with added treats in the latter part of the song: a sweet "Tighten Up" jam and what sounds a whole lot like "Only the Beginning" from Chicago Transit Authority near the end. Exceptional Dark Star!
Dark Star
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

You won't find a better post-1974, pre-Branford Dark Star than this (w/the exception of Winterland 12/31/78). Plus, this whole show is grossly overlooked. It contains an absolutely killer "Shakedown" and an all-time-best "Miracle" to compliment this meaty DS.