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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

52
Dark Star
Dec. 31, 1978
Winterland Arena

Farewell to Winterland; Not 40 mins. long ; no break down into feedback nonsense. Just sweet jazzy jamming; Just exactly perfect send off.
10
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Transition jam weaves into spaces most fail to go; touch-down into Fire is GOLD. Jerry flubs first line in Fire-after that: 1 of the BEST ever!
19
He's Gone
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Perfect, self-contained, blues-infused, stellar vocals, 14+ minutes of bliss. Extra fun: Check out the "Birdsong" riff about 10 secs. into the intro
36
Dark Star
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

Amazed this isn't here yet Gorgeous, melodic, jazz-infused, mellow, trippy, spacey into hard ripping Jerry riffs; melts into Brokedown Palace. Sublime
48
Cold Rain and Snow
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Kicks off with authority a 2d set every DeadHead needs to hear. Perfect bookend to Jerry's scorching Dew. They say it was cold&rainy that nite in ME.

Comments

They Love Each Other
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

yes yes YES!!!!
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

No might about it. How this one escaped my attention before I have no idea. Extended jam by Jerry, impassioned lyrics. This one has it all. Same show contains possibly the best ever "Peggy-O", but I digress ;-)
Here Comes Sunshine
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Had to bump this one into the lead after hearing it for the first time. The '73 versions noted below are all excellent but this goes beyond in terms of jam tightness and sense of purpose. Check out the picture perfect piano flourish by Keith heading back into one of the main theme reprises.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 2, 1978
Giants Stadium

Funny--I just ASSUMED this was already here! Indeed a stellar version and reportedly Dick Latvala's favorite all-time. It's arguably the most intense of the "Scarlets" in this pairing ever, and the jamming on both tunes is very tilted to the rock n roll side of the ledger. Certainly belongs on a Top 10 list of all-time versions, even if you prefer some of the more "silky" 1977 versions (as I do.)
New Minglewood Blues
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

...as is the whole show. Check out every tune.