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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.

Comments

Bird Song
Oct. 17, 1983
Olympic Center

This has a sparkling jam segment that builds and peaks & before going back into the final verse settles into a mellow-spacey mini jam reminiscent of the gentle space touches of 6/22/73. Overlooked version as cgarces said b/c of the Sugaree from the same show. Should stand on its own merits tho'.
Alligator
June 6, 1970
Fillmore West

Exactly what ERA said--this should be labeled Kitchen Sink jam for everything it's got going on. I also just submitted this one under "Darkness Jam" which it definitely has, but that's just one amazing nugget among many. I'd put this jam segment up against any they did in any era--it's that good. Top 5 Jam segment all time at the very least.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

@cgarces this one's growing on me even more now that DaP 12 is out...sound quality is stellar. I don't mind the shortness of the "Fire"...sometimes Fires go on a bit long for my taste (unless they are of an elite category & then I'm all for stretching out as long as possible!) The Candyman, Ramble, and much more from this show are really special.
Big River
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Ohhhhhh yes. Take a listen to the new DaP 12 and you'll bump this toot sweet.
Werewolves of London
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Writing this on Halloween w/a nod to the version they were all more "into" live than any other. Love Donna's call and response w/Jerry on the final verse w/the werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. Priceless.