Confident Soulful Sonically Strong

Crisp and right

Not Flashy, Just Exactly Perfect Though

Personal favorite since I was at this show. break jam achieves timeless beauty - actually makes time stop - starts contemplatively, builds beautifully, soars at the end. Jerry is relaxed, his timing is all there. The first bars - first 50 seconds or so of the jam - Jerry and Bob's rising and falling lines and drummers tap tapping on the cowbell or high hat weave and intersect, echoing/bouncing off/understanding - till Jerry takes off in the next chorus, but somehow gently - who knows, maybe he just decided to launch? It's the bridge - the magical transformation from the world where things aren't quite connecting to the world where strangers are stopping strangers just to shake their hands. Tail jam>Transition into Fire is superb, 'cause by this time in the song JG has it all going - he "sees" how he's going to untangle the knots and keeps it simple and cool. There are lots of incredible spring '77 Scarlet>Fire versions of course - it's very hard to choose a "best". Won't forget this one though.

I have never been a big fan of live FOTD after 1976. I changed my mind after hearing this version. I wasn't there, but wow, 150k people and a stinging version where Keith and Jerry found the keys. So nice.

This one has great energy. Starting the second set with 150k people (is that right?) cheering themselves - "best audience in a long, long time!". A passionate, jumping, piano-drum driven version. Jerry takes off on the energy. Not cool, smooth and sweet like 5/9/77 but fired up. Wish I were there.

the most soul-country version i've heard. so tasty, so in control, so sweet

this one should be higher, maybe not the best because not the most fiery or etherial, but 2nd or 3rd for sure, as the rhythms are perfection