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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

Eyes Of The World
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

More about this one. If you’re a fan of 11/4/77 & clearly there are many & for good reason you really should give this one a hard listen. Colgate is like a fire hose of Garcia notes and it’s blazing while still holding true to the song’s structural integrity. In this version Garcia is playing just as fast...maybe faster...but with an even more controlled and mellow jazz flow than 11-4. When Jerry plays this way he always brings to mind a Wes Montgomery performance...be-bop jazz notes at the Village Gate kind of feel, & to top it off the rest of the band is equal to the task. Weir’s rhythm is exceptionally disciplined in this version so as to keep up with Jerry but he adds color & just the right amount of counter at just the right times as well. Billy & Mickey deserve full accolades for the same reason, right up until Garcia’s second jam break where they let loose & provide some serious power to the end jam. Phil rolls along beautifully & while a Keith could be higher in the mix, he’s fully engaged as well. If you’re looking for a big board sleeper pick, you found it.
Dark Star
Feb. 22, 1973
Assembly Hall, University of Illinois

An oddity for its year--a compact, under 15-minute long beauty of a Dark Star. Playing around mostly with the main theme Garcia draws liquid lines with ease while the rest of the band coalesces & delivers a fully realized yet more streamlined rendition that still tantalizes the senses. The Eyes that follows is pretty sweet too.
Samba In The Rain
March 30, 1995
The Omni

^^^^^Needed that chuckle & you're right--a very 2020 activity. Thanks for doing it so we don't have to! (Not my favorite tune ;-)
Estimated Prophet
Sept. 22, 1993
Madison Square Garden

^^^^you ain’t wrong. That very thing (Weir’s interruption) keeps me from upvoting this otherwise fine version.
Eyes Of The World
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

What is it with the Dead crushing it in Charm City? The Ravenspace show in '82, the Dick's Picks from 9/17/72, & this oddly overlooked '77 masterpiece are just a few examples but this Eyes in particular should not be missed from this show, which contains many other gems. Full-powered jamming in this one that sounds more like the rowdier fall versions than the usual May suspects. Easy upvote.