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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

56
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 11, 1982
West Palm Beach Auditorium

The very definition of "underrated." Almost lost to time& yet it kills. No flubbed verses, great steady reggae jams;perfect transition. Please try it.
46
Ramble On Rose
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

Jerry sounds "just like Wolfman Jack" when he growwwlllzzz out the final chorus on "Goodbye Mama & Papa...!" Whole version is aces back to back!
45
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Jerry in especially soulful voice on this completely perfecto version from one of the best shows of '82. If you like 4-6 Spectrum, you'll love this.
18
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

My favorite "sandwich" version, this PITB actually begins in the 2nd set as reprise from the previous night! Insane weaving thru UJB/Space/Dew
22
Samson and Delilah
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Goofy stage banter by Bob, then the rippingest, roaringest, best-drummed version I know.

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.