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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

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater

Maybe someone else knows a version that features this, but I sure don't. The bonus jam is lengthy and indeed hot and just when you think for all the world they're coming out of it with "Wind in the willows", instead it's "Aint nothin' right but I've never been wrong" with everyone on cue! It's truly the only time i've ever heard them do this...then after that you get a shorter but still nice jam prior to "wind in the willows". Not sure if this was all by design or adjustments made on the fly. Probably the latter, but unique version for sure.
Brown Eyed Women
Nov. 4, 1977
Cotterell Gym - Colgate University

Jerry finishes the last line "and it looks like the old man's gettin' on..." and then adds "yes it does." Sweet version indeed.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 10, 1991
Madison Square Garden

Grossly underrated. Branford sounds like he's been playing this one his whole career. Bruce is right on, and Phil is driving the train. Tight and energetic--best 90's version i've ever heard.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 1, 1979
Holleder Memorial Stadium

Please clear the area--this FIRE has gone completely out of control.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

Glad you re-visited this one. So many great shows in May '77 this one easily gets overshadowed (so does 5/13, Chicago), and this Scarlet>Fire bears the price. I think this one is Top 5 for the year, easy.