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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
4
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!
28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!

Comments

Playin' In The Band
May 13, 1978
The Spectrum

Maybe it's because '78 is not known as a stand-out year for this tune, but just two votes w/mine added is puzzling! If you bypass this version--and show in general--you're missing out on a sleeper gem. Jerry does some "out of left field" riffing near the homestretch of this nicely stretched out jazz offering...w/some fittingly edgy attitude thrown in given the venue. Worth a listen or 2.
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

^^^^ Much obliged
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

What is everyone's favorite version of this show for best audio quality? (I usually go w/Jim Wise AUD but if there's something newer that sounds even better lemme know)
Loose Lucy
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

yeah not sure why this one doesn't get more love...halfway between the brisk readings of this period and the slower funk grease versions--w/an edge to the speedier side but also in control & w/some nice & boppy lines & Jer clearly having fun...he even (mostly) gets the words right. Better chorus background vox from donna than in many other versions from this time
The Other One
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

There's the ubiquitous '74 style dissonant space jam section, which to me is nowhere near the highlight, but there's also the sly reading of the prototype slipknot jam and beyond that an outstanding exploration over all sorts of jazz-infused musical landscapes. The rejoin to the main theme and verse gets intense and hard rock ensues but not at the expense of tone or rhythmic force. Excellent Other One gets my +1