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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

4
Ramble On Rose
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Faster than usual tempo with just a brilliant Jerry bridge jam and no missed lyrics make this one a not-to-be-missed version.
14
The Other One
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

Not sure why everyone ignores '77 versions, but you're missing out if you haven't heard this one. Power packed Jerry-led fury.
4
Spanish Jam
May 21, 1995
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl

In the band's worst year they somehow came up with a really short but spot-on SJ that emerges nicely out of space. Ignore the date-check out the tune.
4
It Must Have Been The Roses
March 13, 1981
Utica Coliseum

Seek out the SBD (unknown lineage) then bask in what's possibly the best-sung, most heartfelt & lovely "Roses" ever.
54
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

It's criminal that this hasn't made the list yet. Like super-smooth '77 versions? You MUST hear this.

Comments

Eyes Of The World
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

What is this doing in the single digits of vote counting? Look, I get that 1974 is filled with oodles of awesome EYES. I get it. But even by '74 standards this one deserves to be up there with the best of them, at the very least in terms of flow and glide and ease of the jamming. Just listen to the intro alone on this one. It's a stream on consciousness river of ideas, but smooth like silk all at once. The whole version just glides along on wings and when it shifts to the outro material it's laser sharp on all the turns, stops and starts. They played 2 pretty amazing shows at this venue--this one and 6/22/73. This EYES is one of the highlights of the former.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Upvoted for all the reasons listed already but also for the superior vocals. Everyone's in tune, and it's sung with gusto by Jerry. Crystal clear, and of course the jamming is spectacular.
Box of Rain
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

One of the better live versions done. Phil doesn't try to over-sing and neither does Donna. They nail all the verses and it's a tight little ditty that still retains the loveliness of the tune.
Spanish Jam
Aug. 28, 1981
Long Beach Arena

Gritty dig-deep fuzz-guitar Garcia magic.
Bertha
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

Underrated for sure. There's a Glassberg MOTB recording on the archive that's pretty great for an AUD and there's no reason for a May '77 Bertha to be as overlooked as this one has. Mellow but with flowing Jerry-led jams. Excellent version.