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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

13
Brother Esau
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Complete with kickin' cow bell, nice long intro, easily one of the best you'll find.
13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
5
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!

Comments

Here Comes Sunshine
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

^^^^Agreed. Tight, energetic and better sung than most.
Playin' In The Band
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Twirler's paradise. No dissonance or melt-down madness here, just corkscrew wah-wah Jerry jazz lines surrounded by really innovative Weir-led rhythm sections...a complete band mind-meld of swirling colors and ideas and a sweet re-entry to the reprise. Just outstanding and seriously under-rated on the Big Board. Hoping that will change with more ears on the new DaP.
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

^^^^I know! Still freaking out about it...an official release of my favorite all time show!
Cassidy
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

The '77 versions are so consistent (in the best way) that they tend to blend together and get taken for granted, which is a shame, because versions like this one are like little diamond dew droplets among the rain forest of bigger suites. What's especially good about this version is the vocal fluidity and blending between Bob & Donna and a Garcia jam break before the return that is brief in comparison to the versions that would emerge in years to follow, but contains multitudes within its own time frame that make it every bit as vast, mysterious, and wondrous as its lengthier companions. Glad to finally bump this into double digits. Should be higher.
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 3, 1979
Uptown Theatre

oops. sorry for the dub post