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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
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Comments
Althea
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum
This version gets a cameo in the form of a clearly labeled 5-1-81 rolling cassette tape in the new "Long Strange Trip" documentary. Al Franken talks up 5/16/80 at Nassau and the unseen interviewer touts this as his favorite. They play bits of each. They're both worthy.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 21, 1971
Chateau d'Herouville
Great, crisp, recording from the new soundtrack. Fantastic Garcia vocals in this one, and a real confident romp through the jamming sections and the transition, which you can sense them feeling out for all its newness, and while it doesn't go the places it would in 73 and 74 it is fascinating to hear an early rendition giving hints to those epic versions to come. Well worth seeking out!
The Other One
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University
I hear you, CK. There are so many fantastic versions of tunes languishing at the bottom of the ladder and this is one of them. I suspect this great rendition suffers from the bias people have against any Other One that's not 30 minutes long and was played after 1974. It's a shame because they played so damn well in 1977 and just because they shortened the length of the tune doesn't mean it should get overlooked. If anything they honed it down and cut out a lot of the excess fat that actually drags down some of those revered 71-72 versions. I don't need a meandering random Phil solo or a bunch of space feedback for a good TOO. Give me Jerry's blazing leads and the hard backing of the double drums and Phil's rolling intros any day. This one from a great and largely overlooked 77 show delivers.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater
^^^^ Let me know when you find those other versions--I'd be curious to check them out!
Shakedown Street
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum
^^^^ It does, and you're right. Won't get as much notice as the barn-burner versions but it should.
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hot songs
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new submissions
Brown Eyed Women, The Summit, Dec. 21, 1978
Cassidy, Auditorium Theatre, June 26, 1976
Promised Land, Auditorium Theatre, June 26, 1976
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