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grendel

Books and Music

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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

Brokedown Palace
Oct. 14, 1977
Hofheinz Pavilion

Fine version from a generally overlooked show.
Dark Star
Oct. 12, 1968
Avalon Ballroom

All jam, no junk. Great flowing Jerry leads. This one surprised and delighted me. Upvote worthy for sure.
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

To be clear, I had no other category to list this under. Its closest to being just called a "jam" but it reads as PITB on the Denver road trips release, which isn't really accurate, even though it's technically part of the Playing sandwich in that great set. It's about 5 mins. of a mellow, in the pocket, perfectly rendered groove with hints of Dark Star....that comes out of El Paso and then just melts like butter into Wharf Rat. Needs to be recognized in the same way the '71 "Beautiful Jam" has been. A classic.
El Paso
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Amazingly fluid Mexicalli-flavored lines by Jerry throughout this version. Does emerge seamlessly from PITB.
Brown Eyed Women
May 4, 1977
The Palladium

All true. Excellent Scarlet-Fire from this show, and one of the great 2d sets of the year. This BEW stands with many of the other greats from '77 including 11/4/77 and Barton.