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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

9
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Almost beyond description. The last full jam leading into the GDTR chorus is a perfect storm example of what made the Dead magic
12
Brown Eyed Women
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

Gotta check out the "small" songs in legendary shows like this as well as the usual suspects! Check out Jerry's utterly perfect bridge jam & be in awe
22
Bird Song
Sept. 22, 1993
Madison Square Garden

If you don't know Saxophonist David Murray, here's a good way to find out how great he is. This is one stellar Birdsong that flew under the radar here
19
They Love Each Other
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

Is there anything prettier, sweeter or more sublimely lovely than Keith's piano in this version? You decide. This TLEO is incredible.
56
Sugaree
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

New #1 favorite. Slightly more compact than other amazing '77 versions & so a bit more focused. 2d Garcia solo has no equal.

Comments

Passenger
Oct. 25, 1979
New Haven Coliseum

It has no equal. Best they ever did.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 19, 1981
Sports Palace

The last two Jerry solos in "Fire"....I mean, damn. Just, damn.
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Aug. 10, 1982
Iowa Fieldhouse - University of Iowa

Grate version from a terrific '82 gem.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 14, 1973
San Diego International Sports Arena

Will have to agree to disagree on this one. They butcher just about every tempo transition , not to mention the lyrics on the final verse. The whole band seems out of step with one another on this version...go back and listen to some of the truly ugly " I got it, you take it" handoffs. There are some nice moments of course and Jerry rips off some great riffs as you'd expect on this tune , but compared with some of the really tight performances in '73 available I'd have this one way farther down the list if on it at all . I apologize for my curmudgeonly tone here but I gotta call it like I see it. It appears tho that I'm the only one shaking my fist ;-)
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

First I thought "yeah, it's great for the 80's, but really can't compete with those killer versions from '72 and '73", but then I thought "so what? That doesn't mean it isn't still great", so here's my up vote.