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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
45
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
28
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
13
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.
35
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!

Comments

Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 22, 1993
Madison Square Garden

Kept expecting this one to go off the rails (in a bad way) but it never did. Nice, tight, acoustic-guitar sound (like the excellent UJB from 2-27-94) with a colorful blend of contributions from everyone. Typically weak Jerry vocal for the year but he gets the lyrics right, & in all this is a nice, up-vote-able HSF from a year that has very few diamonds, but the ones you can find shine super bright.
Franklin's Tower
Sept. 28, 1975
Lindley Meadows, Golden Gate Park

Surprised myself & pleasantly so revisiting this version based on the recent thread of comments & stumbled into another reason I appreciate this site, because it can lead to a re-assessment and a willingness to listen with a different perspective & perhaps give a second chance to a version I'd earlier dismissed & can now enjoy for what's been re-discovered. And while my overall assessment of this particular show stands (a bit overrated, probably due to its novelty & scarcity of shows from the year) I think I was far more disappointed on a new listen by the Help>Slipknot,m which of course isn't even linked up w/Franklins at this show. On its own this a short and not overly spectacular BUT very tight & extra funky/bouncy reading that has an undeniable groove throughout. A bit rough around the edges, sure, & it lacks a jam break between the verse leading into "listen to the music play" but after that Jerome does put things into overdrive & it's typically fab. I'm giving it an upvote mostly because I appreciate y'all talking it up enough to encourage a new listen.
Stella Blue
Oct. 19, 1973
Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Arena

Could be new favorite altho' if you're looking for the "big fanning" versions w/a raging outro like 10/21/78 this isn't your Stella. However, if you want the version that has the most beautiful vocal performance Garcia ever laid down this is probably it, plus the absence of any off-key background chorus on "gonna make 'em shine", with the emphasis on the guitar punctuation instead makes this as pristine a rendition as they ever did. Stellar Stella.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
March 19, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

shouldn't ought to be so low. Groovalicious version.
The Other One
March 22, 1973
Utica Memorial Auditorium

This show is fast finding under the radar gold for me.There's an upgrade to the existing Betty Board that really helps this shine like never before & as for this version, we're looking at a liquidy jazz jam that eases its way into the main theme rather than roaring forth led by Phil's bass as is per the norm, but fear not, b/c Phil makes his presence known just fine in the meat of the jam and this one goes all over the map, finding secret routes & passages back to the homeland and into a typically spellbinding '73 vintage Eyes. Should climb the ladder along w./several other tunes from this show (check the beauty of a Birdsong too)