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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

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals

Comments

New Speedway Boogie
July 14, 1970
Euphoria Ballroom

Perfect groove. Totally in the pocket + a lengthy outro jam.
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 26, 1972
Music Hall

Everyone says this or that Playin' is the "jazziest". No No No No No. THIS Playin' is the jazziest. Think "Bitches Brew" crossed with Phil channeling Mingus at Antibes, while Billy goes all Buddy Rich on the fast parts. Garcia brings his Wes Montgomery touch to the quieter sections and when things get intense he does Jimi proud. Not saying this one is the "best", but it's top tier for sure, and as far as the whole "jazz" discussion goes...well, we have a winner.
Casey Jones
June 27, 1969
Veterans Auditorium

Crazy early version w/indeed a long-ish lead-in instrumental and groovy slower jams in the middle...they're obviously still in the "working out" stages of this classic and it's a total blast to hear this infant version...it still rocks, just in a different way than the well-known faster versions of later years.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

This really needs some comment as well as more votes. There may be no better version in terms of precision combined with power and flow of BOTH tunes, which is fairly rare. (Often you get a stellar 'Scarlet' followed by a tired or flubbed 'Fire', or vice versa.) This version (found on DP 29) never lets up. The 'Scarlet' is pure perfection--smooth yet jammy--and the transition into 'Fire' is a tsunami of power chords by Jerry with ensuing jams that spark the senses. Please give it another listen and see if it earns your vote.
Brown Eyed Women
Sept. 26, 1981
Buffalo Auditorium

Extra Jerry in the jam section...perfectly rendered version...a real hidden gem!