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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

9
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
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.

Comments

Uncle John's Band
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Ah yes! Overshadowed I think by the Eyes from this show, this UJB def. deserves a higher ranking.
Pretty Peggy O
April 30, 1977
The Palladium

Love the extended intro on this one & like nearly every version from '77 this is just gorgeous--vocally & instrumentally. Jerry's solo doesn't quite hit the heights of 5/5/77, 12/27/77, or 519/77, but is nevertheless superb & is still an easy +1 for the board.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1981
Coliseum

Who's in the mood for a hidden gem ScarFire from a year that has scads of 'em hiding in plain sight? Check this one out--full lush reading of both tunes and like much of '81, if you're a Brent fan, you'll want to give this a serious listen .
Eyes Of The World
June 4, 1977
The Forum

Glad Melvin is still groovin'...may have to check that out--thx!
Bird Song
Nov. 17, 1972
Century II Convention Hall

Another winner from the most consistently great Birdsong Year of 1972. This is a surehanded confident beautifully sung silk-smooth rendition, not a note wasted. Wonderful.