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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

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect

Comments

Cassidy
June 9, 1977
Winterland Arena

One of the better ones in the days before they extended the jam sections. Can't really go wrong w/anything from the June Winterland run.
Bird Song
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

This version was recently released as the final installment of "30 Days of Dead' on the official Dead web site, available for free download. Now that it's there, can we please all listen and show it the extra love it totally deserves? Two votes as of this posting is a travesty.
Terrapin Station
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

What deadprof said: Best of '77 for sure.
Brown Eyed Women
May 4, 1972
Olympia Theater

I usually only pay attention to 1977 or later versions as these early ones lack the longer awesome bridge jams by Jerry, but this one makes up for it by having such a gorgeous, flowing mellow groove and is actually sung by Jerry perhaps better than any version I've heard. This is a really surprising and excellent recommendation!
Bertha
Aug. 26, 1971
Gaelic Park

Nice hidden gem. Maybe under the radar for some SBD issues? I thought it was pretty good to my ears.