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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

86
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.
36
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
19
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
11
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
41
Ramble On Rose
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Gorgeous, incredible, up and down, carnival-like bridge jam by Jerry. Picture perfect version--no flaws

Comments

Me and My Uncle
May 10, 1969
Rose Palace

Oh heck yeah this is the "Now for something completely different" MAMU you've been looking for...extra twangy guitar from Jerry--a raucous, barroom brawlin' version with so much more swagger than the usual suspect first set fodder we associate (admit it) with this tune in the 1980s. This version brings the tune to life, true to its gritty down n dirty rock-country origins.
Tennessee Jed
June 23, 1990
Autzen Stadium

Two things are necessary for a truly great T-Jed: 1) Jerry needs to nail all the lyrics & sing 'em, with gusto--check, and 2) the wind-up jam has to be epic--double check. You can't ask for much more with this version--the underrated highlight from set 1 of this fine show. Crazy this version isn't into double digits yet.
He's Gone
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Jerry's "smile smile SMIIIIILLLE"!!" line alone should be enough to get this one higher up the ladder but the whole thing is deserving with Garcia completely dialed in to every lyric, some great jamming and a beautiful coda backed up by Brent's perfecto harmonies. Kind of at a loss as to why so many songs from this incredible show are so low on the list. Forget the novelty of the poorly played Revolution encore and check out the "ordinary" songs from this show b/c they're anything but that.
Truckin'
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Another far better than its current ranking & in need of bumpage. Great ensemble vocals on this one...nice jam after the lyrics
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Gobs better than I remembered it being. New box set revealing how great these MSG shows were -- most especially the two nights from '83