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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

31
Let It Grow
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

The most "Spanish-flavored" of LIG's, evokes old southwest almost Mariachi vibe. Brilliant Garcia changes-Rise&Fall!
25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
46
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
30
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
15
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.

Comments

Tennessee Jed
April 22, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium

I think I like this one even a bit more than the December TN performance. The jam is just so picture perfect and lovely while still being intense and Ga4cia is so way into the vox, delivering the goods without even one lost lyric.
Turn On Your Love Light
April 26, 1972
Jahrhunderthalle

This is how I like it. No offense to Pig, but the versions where he raps to the audience & tries to get people to hook up are just too cheesy for me. It's a shtick and he basically repeated himself with slight variations whenever he did it. But in this case the band isn't in a ballroom like the Avalon or wherever and he can't address people on the floor cuz they're all in seats in an old school concert hall so instead he does his thing but without the hook-up rap and it gives the band such a better opportunity to shine and boy do they ever. There are some stretches where it's all Garcia but many more where Bob's rhythm really moves things along and the real star is Billy, who's just in an unbelievable zone here.Far and away my favorite Lovelight, even though I think the tune had a nice revival in the early 90's especially w/Branford chipping in on sax. This is the one, though.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

^^^^ Sounds better than ever! Thanks for the heads up, Darkstar67.
Not Fade Away
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Encore version from a grossly overlooked '76 masterpiece of a show. Phil and the drummers take no prisoners.
Scarlet Begonias
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Time I upvoted this & could go through most of the show doing so, one of my top 3 faves of 1974. Just a real crisp standalone here, not ultra-expanded but with a great burst of energy from Garcia in the heart of the jam.