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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect

Comments

Dark Star
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Digging this much more with the excellent sound reproduction from Dap 13...as said above many different themes are explored and it retains a musicality throughout with no major digressions into feedback or aimless noodling, which is refreshingly welcomed in a year in which Dark Stars often got indulgently space-sloppy. Gets my upvote.
St. Stephen
Jan. 22, 1978
McArthur Court, U of Oregon

@Freedom yes, this show is pretty special. They've maintained some of that precision you got all thru 1977 but are beginning to stretch those hard rock boundaries that would come to define '78 with sometimes awesome, other times sloppy, results. I dig this version of St. but to me it doesn't hold up nearly as well as 10/29/77...the mid-jam everyone raves about is unique, but to me doesn't really jell or keep a focus like 10/29/77 does....still, I understand and have no problem--objectively-- w/its ranking here....it misses my upvote only b/c of my admitted bias that 10/29/77 is so much better and is so much lower on the ladder.
The Weight
March 28, 1990
Nassau Coliseum

@Patch I certainly thought this was the debut! Can you point us to the 1970 version? was it a gig they played w/the Band & others? Very curious!
Brown Eyed Women
May 14, 1978
Providence Civic Center

Fluid, lengthy bridge jam by Jerry and an overall exceptional version for a song mostly associated with excellence from the year previous..but this one can stand with many of the greats.
Ramble On Rose
Sept. 26, 1981
Buffalo Auditorium

Really great version from a waaaaayyy underrated show. Get the CM upgrade and check this out.