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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

5
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 26, 1971
The Palestra, U. of Rochester

One of the earliest live versions ever and boy oh boy is Jerry into it. Belts out the lyrics. Quick tempo & a real joy to hear!
14
Hey Pocky Way
March 28, 1990
Nassau Coliseum

Weird how little folks seem to care at all about this tune. I love it & Brent does the Neville Bros. proud w/this version--as good as it gets.
5
Eyes Of The World
May 5, 1978
Thompson Arena - Dartmouth College

First there were only AUDs available, but now that a sweet CM SBD is up you oughta check out this sweet '78!
18
Bertha
Oct. 22, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

Rippingly good early version with Keith way out front. Jerry and the whole crew rock it hard!
3
Row Jimmy
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Great cadence to this one and some cool reverb effects lend a trippy mesmerizing feel to this fine entry from the Fox. Get the CM SBD source.

Comments

Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Oct. 28, 1977
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

can't say Keith is doing anything cheesy here but the Supplication Jam in this one is just plain nasty. Nothing will ever top 5/22/77 for the best in jamming AND precision--it is the gold standard for this combo IMO--but this one is right on its heels and deserves way more than the 2 measly votes it has now. (This show is also a Betty Board which should have you running to it for a listen. You won't be disappointed.)
Shakedown Street
Jan. 15, 1979
Springfield Civic Center

Gets my upvote for the transition/intro to Shakedown, which is as good as advertised, and it's a good version b/c they didn't really do any bad ones in '79, but compared to some of the truly excellent ones. it doesn't hold up as well throughout the whole tune. Jer botches the opening lyrics and the "just gotta poke around" round robin sections are kind of uninspired. The jam after the lyrics is good, no quarrels, but it won't blow you away like New Haven or Halloween Nassau of this year, and for a truly under appreciated and absolutely note-perfect killer Shake, I urge y'all to try just 5 days previous to this 1/10/79 from Nassau. This is a gritty, grimy-funkfest of Jerry at his best and the whole of the crew crushing it as well. Phil after says "Shakedown Street...you know it well!"
Althea
Sept. 11, 1982
West Palm Beach Auditorium

This whole show is great-- except, whoops, I was thinking of a different one from '82 ...my bad
Eyes Of The World
Dec. 31, 1976
Cow Palace

Yep, as merryjerry noted this is technically the first Eyes of 1977, coming just after SugarMag kicked off the New Year and strangely enough this version shares many of the same attributes as one at the tail end of the year in 11/4/77 marked by incredibly fast, yet in control Garcia jams. The band is all in tow as well and it serves as a great place-setter for what I fully believe was the best year overall for this song that was always in rotation every year since its debut in 1973. The intro is jazzy, the middle jams are raucous and beautiful at the same time and the jam after the final verse--while seeming a bit lackluster and meandering at first--actually serves its purpose for flowing lovingly into a sweet Wharf Rat. No question this gets my upvote.
Dark Star
Feb. 7, 1969
Stanley Theater

Some very cool early DS magic right here. Flowing psychedelic ooze that nevertheless maintains the main theme structure throughout...classic '69 Dead w/a fine recording taboot. Deserves a listen and some upvotage.