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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

14
Big Railroad Blues
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

So rippin' good. Get your Jerry on.
28
Deep Elem Blues
April 5, 1982
The Spectrum

For a stellar electric version check out this one from Philly. Also included as filler material for Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 4
8
El Paso
May 10, 1972
Concertgebouw

Bobby's vocals are especially sweet & heartfelt in this one & Jerry adds some tasty southwestern-style licks. Very smooth.
15
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 28, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Interesting & under the radar version-sweet & mellow w/a relaxed intro & then usual great '77 exploration jamming--but more lovely than intense
12
Not Fade Away
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Check the new "Seaweed" SBD of this version...KILLER out of space... full 3 mins+ of pickin' Jammin' and Bobby rythms & Brent's sweeping flourishes!

Comments

Aiko Aiko
April 9, 1988
Centrum

Fast & furious but spot-on with Jerry belting out vocals with an extra growl in his delivery towards the end..."Indian boy wanna go downtown..." verse included with the crowd giving it up for it right after. Short but blazing & party-down rendition worthy of upvote.
Loose Lucy
March 27, 1993
Knickerbocker Arena

Best version post-callback, hands down, and really, perhaps the best ever. It's close to impossible to find another version in which Garcia doesn't mess up at least one lyric (no missteps here), and this versions just hits every note, rocks hard, has great back-up vox, and a middle jam that Jerry tears into and winds up just exactly perfect into the final two verses. Drop the mic stuff here.
Playin' In The Band
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena

Wish more folks would give this a listen and bump it WAY higher. As isles said this is an excellent sandwich version (the transition into Samson is sublime & I don't know how many times they even did this combo but I doubt there's a better one out there) but the Playin' itself--on both ends--is just spectacular: At times quiet, contemplative, at others jazzy and winding and never without focus. Keith in particular comes thru beautifully on this version and the lengthy reprise takes a sweet journey in and out of the main theme before coming back fully in a great conclusion. I believe '77 was the last truly great year for this song before it (mostly) became a lazy sort of vehicle to get into space or start a 2nd set with just a hint of exploration before heading perfunctorily into another tune, and frankly not all the versions in '77 gave it quite this level of respect and execution. Give this whole suite another try if you haven't in a while and see if you don't come away with renewed appreciation.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

No longer. Too good a version to be kept under double digits, though there are better ones this same month (5/18 and 5/22, but that's a pretty high bar.)
Althea
Dec. 12, 1980
Swing Auditorium

WHAT is this doing so far down the list??? This version groooooves its way to a spectacular Jerry solo end flourish. Superior rendition deserving of far higher ranking.