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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

51
Bertha
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Sweet bass drop-ins by Phil on intro; extended Garcia solos in bridge jam; very intense and fun
49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

Upping this for the rocked out jamming, especially in Scarlet. I suspect it's not higher because it's one of the shorter of the paired combos but, honestly, sometimes that's better. The transition into Fire here is super mellow after the hard jamming of Scarlet but it works. Fire is not an all-timer but it aint bad either. This whole show is the most underrated of the Winterland run to end the year. This version deserves at least double digits on the board.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater

^^^^Yes! Was just listening to 1/31/78 the other day and noticed that really odd placement of the early verse after the jam, then followed immediately by "Wind in the Willows" lyric. Odd, yes, but it somehow works in that very underrated version.
The Other One
March 20, 1992
Copps Coliseum

Excellent fuzz guitar from Jerry, totally ripping. Ignore the year and (maybe) take half a point off if you don't like Healy messing w/Bobby's voice on the chorus to make him sound like he's just sucked helium from a balloon. But this really is top notch jamming. Great stuff from a great show.
Shakedown Street
Nov. 29, 1980
Alligator Alley Gym, University of Florida

^^^^So glad you heard that, too. Thought I was hearing things at first but went back and Jerry sure does run right up to the edge of a full on Stranger riff.
Shakedown Street
Nov. 24, 1978
Capitol Theatre

Such great improv jamming by Garcia post lyrics. Tight, funky uber 70s verses up top. One of the best early versions if not the numero uno in that category already.