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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

37
Dark Star
Oct. 25, 1969
Winterland Arena

For those who don't care for the feedback/chase dog from the room DS's...this one is jazzy, jammy, rockin', & beautiful. No distortion; none needed
19
Satisfaction
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Weir: "We know we aint gonna get no satisfaction but we're gonna give it a try...You can scream& twist & beg & cry!"
71
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Lightning quick yet totally on-track riffs from Jerry; intense, powerful version. Weir 100% into it. Segues into killer Deal. Trust me. Must hear.
51
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Perfect wind up, pitch & strike down the middle. I've yet to hear a better one, though I'll try some of the recs here. Til then.....
29
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

From one of the greatest shows ever, a bring the house down killer. Keith w/perfect piano exc. point!

Comments

Uncle John's Band
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

"Cruelly overlooked" for sure. Maybe with release of Get Shown the Light box set this version will climb higher but for now it's undeservedly low of the ladder. Superior vocals and harmonies all delivered beautifully. If Donna had sung this way all the time there'd never have been a single snarky comment made about her. The outro jam before the reprise vocal coda is simply top shelf, all-time territory. +1 automatic.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

^^^^ Love the Elvin Jones comparison. Spot-on!
Althea
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

^^^^Brilliant! And what a crispy SBD to boot. I'm going to further comment on this one under its appropriate listing a bit later. Suffice it to say here that this one has a sweet bop-a-long bounce that's hard to resist. Great rec, Cuca! !
Althea
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Just for clarity, when I was talking about the muddy available sources for an otherwise fine Althea I was referring to DarkStar's recommendation of 3-23-87, not this excellent sounding 3-14-81.
Althea
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

^^^^ I am not, but will check it out right now! edit: Irony! I was actually at this show, and yes, this is a fine Althea, but I also realize why I wasn't immediately familiar with it, & that's b/c I/m a SBD snob and none of the available AUDs are very good, which is not to say anyone should ignore this version, especially if you're more tolerant of AUD sound than I am. The version DarkStar listed here is probably the best one and once you get used to the sound, it's worth settling in to listen, b/c Jerry really grooves on this, and Bobby especially is great in driving the rhythm and punctuating with hard edges when needed. Drummers are locked in, too. Just wish there was a better source, dammit. (Nice Iko from this show too, btw), but Althea is definitely the highlight. End jam is a no holds barred shred fest...no "build up" to the finish, just charge out of the gate ripping stuff, and Billy and Mickey go to town.