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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

24
Franklin's Tower
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

One of the best played versions from one of the best played shows in the Brent era---ever.
16
Shakedown Street
March 24, 1981
Rainbow Theater

15+ minutes of funk w/extended overlapping vocal rounds of "just gotta poke around", etc. before jam Brent adds cool "fuzzy" SFX
1
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Check out Keith on this one! He's never been so up front before & right outta the gate!!
21
Cream Puff War
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Peppy early version w/Jer belting out lyrics & Pig doin' some nice work on organ. No archive copy exists; got this off 30 Days of Dead-worth the DL!
9
Passenger
May 7, 1979
Allan Kirby Field House

Super-charged EARLY Brent version rips and tears and shreds. Final jam before the coda is the best they ever did in this tune. Goes to 11.

Comments

Cassidy
April 19, 1987
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre

Underrated version & show.
Playin' In The Band
March 22, 1972
Academy of Music

This is a gem that may have gone unnoticed for a long time for lack of a quality SBD but there's a Charlie Miller reworking that brings this forth in all its brilliance. As stated this one has that "Ace" album feel to it but it's expanded well beyond that thanks to Jerry who decides to keep the space vibe going well after Bob & the rest of the band appear headed into the reprise. Bob clearly starts playing it about 7 mins. in and Jer's having none of it. Soon the rest of the band is following Jerry back into the jam and going all in before they all have a meeting of the minds about 5 minutes later and bring home the rejoin as a flawless thing of beauty. This one is going directly into high rotation and is an easy +1.
Stella Blue
March 24, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Thanks to Darkstar67 for recommending the Dusborne Matrix. Haven’t listened to Dozin in a while and should have upped this previously. Just took it for granted I guess but the matrix brings it alive in a new way...coolest thing is you can hear how quiet the crowd goes, totally absorbed in Jerry’s beautiful reading. You miss that crowd feel on the official release. Top 3 all time version.
Last Time
June 8, 1992
Richfield Coliseum

This one's got some serious pep and dang if Bob & Jerry don't sound all out & in sync belting out the vocals, which is really the key to them pulling off this tune. Jerry does take a nice little run after the initial vocal section--nothing too spectacular but sweet and bouncy before Vince gets in a tasty look, then it's back to the sing-out. Really impressed with this one and this show in general--chiefly the great second set--and it's not often you'll hear me say that about '92 shows.
Viola Lee Blues
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

I know everyone loves the big insane monster 20+ minute versions & they're great, but this early gem has great (if shorter) jams that are really tight and actually feature some nice Pig organ playing and spectacular ensemble vocals. The end jam gets all speeded out and for a classic acid drenched 60s sound it's tough to beat. I love this "mini" version!