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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
45
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
28
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
13
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.
35
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!

Comments

The Wheel
July 16, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

darkstar^^^good point that while a lot of wheels are spacey build-ups (& great they are) this one stands out for getting right into the theme but w/out sacrificing the ethereal moody mellowness of the tune. As Ernie noted as well some very distinguishable eastern influences make this a slightly different & wonderful version.
Let It Grow
Sept. 7, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

Was this really the live debut? If so, up there with the best “first evers” of all time. Jammed out & jazzy & rolls into a stellar Stella.
Stella Blue
Sept. 7, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

rolls gently & smoothly from Let It Grow & is a real gorgeous rendition with no interference on out of key vocals as later versions suffer from. End jam is surprisingly intricate & lengthy given the song's relative infancy. Excellent stuff.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 17, 1974
Winterland Arena

Heck yeah and to all the above comments. Worthy of way higher ranking
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Mind hasn't been changed about this version being undeserving of its far & away #1 all time position but (& perhaps this is obvious to some but it's only just recetly dawned on me) that perhaps the magic of this version is that it can be truly listed as ONE song more than any other existing rendition. The Scarlet end & Fire beginning are just about indistinguishable and the "transition: doesn't even really feel like one. All other versions stand out for their distinctive pairings but Corenll is truly all of one piece. It's amazing & should be rightfully celebrated for that fact. Best ever? Not to these ears. Top 20? Fer sure--and unique among all others--true as well.