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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
64
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
31
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
127
Wharf Rat
Oct. 7, 1977
University of New Mexico

Most pristine version I've ever heard. So smooth, so clear. Keith leads the way, Jerry brings it home. . Essential for all Wharf Rat fans

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.