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Submissions

10
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
April 14, 1972
Tivolis Koncertsal

Great Year, Great Tour, Great Show, Great Song. Tight as fuck version following a china cat tease.
15
Sugaree
Sept. 2, 1980
Community War Memorial Auditorium

One of the tightest versions I have ever heard. I would place this towards the top. Jerry is in the zone, this really is a killer version. No lies.
5
Jack Straw
Oct. 11, 1977
Lloyd Noble Center - University of Oklahoma

They really bring the hammer down on this one. Tight and hot version, the drummers especially lead the breakdown into the witchita line perfectly
4
Mister Charlie
Aug. 5, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Definitely overlooked because of the monster that came the night after, but in fact this is a really hot version.
9
Drums
April 15, 1970
Winterland Arena

High energy Drums < Jam. The drums are awesome with some fantastic energy, but the real highlight is this unbelievable jam following the drums.

Comments

Playin' In The Band
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Glad you dug it Grendel. 1972 was certainly a prime year for Playin' jams. This show represents a clear transition, into 73'. A really unique perspective on the development coming full circle in many of the jams in the songs. 1973 would sound similar to the sound they achieved on this night, but slightly more developed and controlled. This show represents a very good transition out of 72' into 73'. Probably my favorite New Years show.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

Stinging leads carry this one; mainly provided by Garcia and Lesh. Keith however has some nice fills in the Help on the Way. Altogether, however, when held in a comparative lense with the other versions surrounding it, it can clearly not be considered the top version. 8-13-75, 6-9-77, 4-23-77, 10-9-76 are all better, and some others still might on future listenings take a higher spot. Don't get me wrong this version is massive, but is not the best. There are multiple flubs in the Help, and the Franklin sputters at times. It certainly gets helped immensely by the date it was played on, the night after Barton.
Bertha
Oct. 22, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

Concise and strong, love Keith in this one. Garcia has a great solo. All in all Bertha was great in 71' this version proves that point.
Bird Song
March 16, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

Oh man, what a song, and what a version. Melodically this one trumps most, this soars and cascades. Belongs in any discussion for top 10.
Bird Song
June 22, 1973
Pacific Coliseum

Top 3 version.