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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Sept. 27, 1976
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Keith shines on a long, flowing intro section that spills into space-mellow Rat-Goodness
14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
5
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
38
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.

Comments

Hard to Handle
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Get the Matrix. Dang.
Stella Blue
April 21, 1978
Rupp Arena

Thanks, Patch. Good to see it up there leading the pack. I really believe that's the best version...certainly as far as instrumental beauty and ferocity. This one here's pretty good too, but 10/21/78 is in a class by itself.
Feel Like A Stranger
July 17, 1989
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Since I was lucky enough to be there I should do the right thing and bump this up the ladder even more. Phenomenal 3-day run at Alpine. So many great tunes featuring a revived Jerry. Bobby & Brent own this one, though.
Not Fade Away
Nov. 2, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Start your New Year (1/1/15) as I write this off on the right foot w/perhaps the most unique NFA I've ever heard. The intro sounds almost like "Don't Let Go" rather than NFA but everyone in the band is in on it and in the pocket. As Klaussmith notes the following jams are ripping and intriguing in a way that just feels different than most any version you'll hear from any era, and it just cooks all the way thru. Top 10 version, all-time.
Shakedown Street
Dec. 28, 1978
Golden Hall, Community Concourse

This has got to go higher on the list. About as tight and focused and fun as you will ever hear. Check out the jam after the 2nd verse. Get on this version now and bump... it... UP!