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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


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

Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

the best, Jerry...the Best!
Bird Song
Sept. 21, 1972
The Spectrum

Absolutely agree. Would have listed this one myself had I not assumed it was already here. Keith really provides a gorgeous bridge to a typically smooth and mesmerizing 1972 version. Must-hear.
They Love Each Other
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

All about Keith...check his gorgeous flowing lines that make this one so silky smooth.
Not Fade Away
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From one of the all-time greatest shows ever played and my personal #1 favorite. Killer Stephen precedes it...Black Peter...Sugar Mag--all stellar.
Dark Star
Sept. 21, 1972
The Spectrum

Can't believe I only just experienced this. Garcia concocts an MLB while making his electric guitar sound like a bluegrass banjo in the final stanza and leads the rest of the gang on an exploration of improv jamming that must be heard to be believed. Rest of the half hour masterpiece aint too shabby either. Jazzy, mellow, but hard-driving in places...not too much dissonant noise distortion..but that final fury of bluegrass-infused jazz improv leading into AM Dew puts this one into legendary territory.