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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

86
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.
36
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
19
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
11
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
41
Ramble On Rose
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Gorgeous, incredible, up and down, carnival-like bridge jam by Jerry. Picture perfect version--no flaws

Comments

Morning Dew
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

^^^^glad to hear I’m not the only one who compares 4/78 to 5/77 ... so true. While I don’t put this particular Dew into my all time list (a few too many off note clams esp. in the early sections) this show overall & practically the whole month of April 78 has that “throw a dart hit a great show” dynamic just like May of 77 does. (4/8 4/12 4/15 4/16 4/24 all A+ gems). I do love this Dew tho bc it’s the only one of the year & of course there are parts where Jer just drops the hammer & stops you in your trax.
Let It Grow
April 20, 1984
Philadelphia Civic Center

Just a dense thicket of jam, everyone's ablaze here especially the rhythm devils. The Scarlet>Fire (deservedly) gets the lion's share of attention for this show but this is a show stopper in its own right.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
April 18, 1978
Civic Arena

...and worthy of those extra votes! A high energy version that does not suffer from sloppy or rushed playing as many later versions (esp. in the 80's) would , and Bobby pretty much nails down the lyrics here, which was never a given. but you can also tell how much fun they're having here & Donna is very much involved in a good way. Glad to nudge this into double digits
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 14, 1977
Hofheinz Pavilion

Absolute beast here...rockin' to start then drifting & dreaming with lots of contemplative space. Nice rejoin, too. Heckuva show but then again there's a whole lot of those from autumn 77
Passenger
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Ugly train wreck as either Donna/Bobby come in too early on “passenger don’t you hear me” vocal or Garcia wasn’t ready. Either way the botch on this critical part of the tune keeps it from an upvote here. Most of the rest of this show is gold of course....