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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


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

Jack Straw
April 22, 1979
Spartan Stadium - San Jose State University

^^^^Thanks all for the recs...have tried them all now & I think the matrix works best but even that suffers from too much high-endy sound...very treble heavy and other sources sound murky. Too bad b/c this really is a fine show & I'd love to hear some clean copies.
Jack Straw
April 22, 1979
Spartan Stadium - San Jose State University

What's the best source for this show? It looks like a real sleeper but every version I've heard so far is pretty poor sound-wise.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
June 12, 1980
Memorial Coliseum

Tell ya one thing: I've never heard a version with a better intro to "Scarlet". Full on Brent/Bobby/Jerry rhythm funk, almost 2 mins worth. Rest of the combo rips pretty well, too. If you're looking for a sleeper pick S>F that's inexplicably in the lower rungs, you've found it.
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 22, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

These uber early ‘71 versions are a hoot. Fast paced saloon swagger whiskey barroom fun.
Stella Blue
July 27, 1982
Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Such a great year for this tune and if you're looking for a crooner's delight Jerry vocal this is your Stella. Everything about this version shines.