Grateful Dead Best version EVER?

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June 4, 2007 - 10:00am

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marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

So, what are your all-time greats?

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October 24, 2016 - 5:19am

#31

Meanbandoit

Joined:
October 24, 2016

My list.

1. Can’t Come Down 3-11-19652. The Only Time Is Now 3-11-1965 3. On The Road Again 25-02-1966 4. You Don’t Have To Ask 25-03-1966 5. It’s A Sin 19-05-1966 6. In The Pines 17-07-1966 7. Nobody’s Fault But Mine 17-07-1966 8. Midnight Hour 16-09-1966 9. Alice D. Millionaire 1-12-1966 10. You Don’t Love Me 1-12-1966 11. Deep Elem Blues 1-12-1966 12. The Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion 18-03-1967 13. Cream Puff War 18-03-1967 14. The Same Thing 18-03-1967 15. Cold Rain And Snow 18-03-1967 16. Viola Lee Blues 18-03-1967 17. Dancing In The Street 3-09-1967 18. That’s It For The Other One 22-10-1967 19. Morning Dew 14-02-1968 20. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 14-02-1968 21. Dark Star 14-02-1968 22. China Cat Sunflower 14-02-1968 23. The Eleven 14-02-1968 24. Turn On Your Lovelight 14-02-1968 25. That’s It For The Other One 14-02-1968 26. New Potato Caboose 14-02-1968 27. Born Cross-Eyed 14-02-1968 28. Spanish Jam 14-02-1968 29. Alligator 14-02-1968 30. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) 14-02-1968 31. Feedback 14-02-1968 32. Midnight Hour 14-02-1968 33. Rosemary 7-12-1968 34. Dark Star 2-03-1969 35. St. Stephen 2-03-1969 36. The Eleven 2-03-1969 37. Turn On Your Lovelight 2-03-1969 38. Doin’ That Rag 2-03-1969 39. Dupree’s Diamond Blues 20-04-1969 40. Mountains Of The Moon 20-04-1969 41. Slewfoot 27-06-1969 42. Casey Jones 27-06-1969 43. Dire Wolf 27-06-1969 44. The Main Ten 5-12-1969 45. It’s All Over Now Baby Blue 5-12-1969 46. Overture/Mason’s Children 2-01-1970 47. High Time 2-01-1970 48. Easy Wind 16-01-1970 49. Me And My Uncle 13-02-1970 50. Dire Wolf 13-02-1970 51. Smokestack Lightning 13-02-1970 52. Yellow Dog Story 23-02-1970 53. Monkey And The Engineer 13-02-1970 54. Little Sadie 13-02-1970 55. Wake Up Little Susie 13-02-1970 56. Black Peter 13-02-1970 57. Uncle John’s Band 13-02-1970 58. Katie Mae 13-02-1970 59. Dark Star 13-02-1970 60. That’s It For The Other One 13-02-1970 61. Turn On Your Lovelight 13-02-1970 62. Walkin’ The Dog 21-03-1970 63. Big Boss Man 21-03-1970 64. He Was A Friend Of Mine 21-03-1970 65. Candyman 7-05-1970 66. Cumberland Blues 7-05-1970 67. New Speedway Boogie 7-05-1970 68. I’m A King Bee 7-05-1970 69. Frozen Logger 7-05-1970 70. Don’t Ease Me In 15-05-1970/1 71. I Know You Rider 15-05-1970/1 72. Ain’t It Crazy (The Rub) 15-05-1970/1 73. St. Stephen 15-05-1970/1 74. That’s It For The Other One 15-05-1970/1 75. Cosmic Charlie 15-05-1970/1 76. New Minglewood Blues 15-05-1970/1 77. Morning Dew 15-05-1970/2 78. Good Lovin’ 15-05-1970/2 79. To Lay Me Down 30-07-1970 80. Truckin’ 18-08-1970 81. Dire Wolf 18-08-1970 82. Friend Of The Devil 18-08-1970 83. Dark Hollow 18-08-1970 84. Ripple 18-08-1970 85. Brokedown Palace 18-08-1970 86. Operator 18-08-1970 87. Box Of Rain 17-09-1970 88. Rosalie McFall 18-08-1970 89. New Speedway Boogie 18-08-1970 90. Cold Jordan 18-08-1970 91. Swing Low Sweet Chariot 18-08-1970 92. Dancing In The Street 18-08-1970 93. Sugar Magnolia 18-09-1970 94. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World 18-09-1970 95. Till The Morning Comes 18-09-1970 96. Not Fade Away 18-08-1970 97. Truckin’ 19-02-1971 98. Loser 19-02-1971 99. Cumberland Blues 19-02-1971 100. It Hurts Me Too 19-02-1971 101. Bertha 19-02-1971 102. Playing In The Band 19-02-1971 103. Greatest Story Ever Told 19-02-1971 104. Johnny B. Goode 19-02-1971 105. Good Lovin’ 19-02-1971 106. Casey Jones 19-02-1971 107. Hard To Handle 20-02-1971 108. Bird Song 20-02-1971 109. Not Fade Away 18-03-1971 110. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad 18-03-1971 111. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) 18-03-1971 112. Feedback 18-03-1971 113. I Second That Emotion 8-04-1971 114. Dark Star 8-04-1971 115. Good Lovin’ 17-04-1971 116. Empty Pages 24-08-1971 117. Beat It On Down The Line 24-08-1971 118. Brown-Eyed Women 24-08-1971 119. Comes A Time 19-10-1971 120. Ramble On Rose 19-10-1971 121. Me And Bobby McGee 19-10-1971 122. Brokedown Palace 19-10-1971 123. That’s It For The Other One 19-10-1971 124. Wharf Rat 19-10-1971 125. Hideaway 7-11-1971 126. Big River 31-12-1971 127. The Same Thing 31-12-1971 128. Promised Land 23-05-1972 129. Sugaree 26-05-1972 130. Mr. Charlie 26-05-1972 131. Black-Throated Wind 26-05-1972 132. Deal 11-05-1972 133. Chinatown Shuffle 11-05-1972 134. Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu 23-05-1972 135. Mexicali Blues 23-05-1972 136. Black Peter 24-05-1972 137. Dire Wolf 26-05-1972 138. The Stranger 26-05-1972 139. Playing In The Band 26-05-1972 140. Good Lovin’ 4-05-1972 141. Truckin’ 26-04-1972 142. The Faster We Go The Rounder We Get 26-04-1972 143. Comes A Time 25-05-1972 144. Tennessee Jed 11-05-1972 145. Jack Straw 4-05-1972 146. Dark Star 4-05-1972 147. Sugar Magnolia 17-04-1972 148. Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) 17-04-1972 149. Johnny B. Goode 17-04-1972 150. Stella Blue 17-06-1972 151. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo 26-07-1972 152. Dark Star 26-07-1972 153. Comes A Time 26-07-1972 154. Dark Star 27-08-1972 155. El Paso 27-08-1972 156. Sing Me Back Home 27-08-1972 157. Around And Around 23-09-1972 158. It’s All Over Now Baby Blue 23-09-1972 159. That’s It For The Other One 23-09-1972 160. Wharf Rat 23-09-1972 161. Box Of Rain 30-10-1972 162. Truckin’ 30-10-1972 163. Tomorrow Is Forever 30-10-1972 164. Around And Around 30-10-1972 165. Candyman 30-10-1972 166. Eyes Of The World 10-06-1973 167. Stella Blue 10-06-1973 168. Loser 17-09-1973 169. Looks Like Rain 17-09-1973 170. Row Jimmy 17-09-1973 171. Jack Straw 17-09-1973 172. Loose Lucy 17-09-1973 173. You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man 17-09-1973 174. Let Me Sing Your Blues Away 17-09-1973 175. Here Comes Sunshine 6-12-1973 176. Big River 6-12-1973 177. Dark Star 6-12-1973 178. Weather Report Suite 8-12-1973 179. Big Railroad Blues 19-12-1973 1. Let It Rock 23-06-1974 2. Deal 21-05-1974 3. The Race Is On 21-05-1974 4. Scarlet Begonias 21-05-1974 5. El Paso 21-05-1074 6. Row Jimmy 21-05-1974 7. Money Money 21-05-1974 8. Ship Of Fools 21-05-1974 9. Weather Report Suite 21-05-1974 10. China Doll 21-05-1974 11. Playing In The Band 21-05-1974 12. US Blues 21-05-1974 13. Loose Lucy 25-07-1974 14. He’s Gone 29-07-1974 15. Truckin’ 29-07-1974 16. Nobody’s Fault But Mine 29-07-1974 17. Spanish Jam 29-07-1974 18. The Faster We Go The Rounder We Get 29-07-1974 19. Wharf Rat 29-07-1974 20. Seastones 18-10-1974 21. Interlude 18-10-1974 22. Dark Star 18-10-1974 23. Morning Dew 18-10-1974 24. Interlude 13-08-1975 25. Help On The Way 13-08-1975 26. Slipknot 13-08-1975 27. Franklin’s Tower 13-08-1975 28. The Music Never Stopped 13-08-1975 29. Eyes Of The World 13-08-1975 30. King Solomon’s Marbles 13-08-1975 31. King Solomon’s Marbles 13-08-1975 32. Crazy Fingers 13-08-1975 33. Drum Theme 13-08-1975 34. The Faster We Go The Rounder We Get 13-08-1975 35. Sage And Spirit 13-08-1975 36. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad 13-08-1975 37. US Blues 13-08-1975 38. Blues For Allah 13-08-1975 39. Might As Well 3-06-1976 40. Cassidy 3-06-1976 41. Lazy Lightning 3-06-1976 42. Supplication 3-06-1976 43. The Wheel 3-06-1976 44. Friend Of The Devil 4-06-1976 45. Mission In The Rain 4-06-1976 46. Cosmic Charlie 4-06-1976 47. It’s All Over Now 18-03-1977 48. Sugaree 18-03-1977 49. Estimated Prophet 18-03-1977 50. Terrapin Station 18-03-1977 51. Drum Transition 18-03-1977 52. Not Fade Away 18-03-1977 53. St. Stephen 18-03-1977 54. Around And Around 18-03-1977 55. Samson And Delilah 20-03-1977 56. Sunrise 1-05-1977 57. Dancing In The Street 4-05-1977 58. Jack-A-Roe 13-05-1977 59. Passenger 15-05-1977 60. High Time 18-05-1977 61. Shakedown Street 16-09-1978 62. Interlude 16-09-1978 63. Interlude 16-09-1978 64. Truckin’ 16-09-1978 65. Stella Blue 16-09-1978 66. Around And Around 16-09-1978 67. I Need A Miracle 17-10-1978 68. Estimated Prophet 17-10-1978 69. Eyes Of The World 17-10-1978 70. Interlude 17-10-1978 71. Interlude 17-10-1978 72. If I Had The World To Give 17-10-1978 73. Around And Around 17-10-1978 74. Scarlet Begonias 22-10-1978 75. Fire On The Mountain 22-10-1978 76. From The Heart Of Me 22-10-1978 77. Stagger Lee 24-11-1978 78. New Minglewood Blues 24-11-1978 79. Cold Rain And Snow 10-12-1979 80. Greatest Story Ever Told 10-12-1979 81. Alabama Getaway 1-05-1980 82. Promised Land 1-05-1980 83. Lost Sailor 1-05-1980 84. Saint Of Circumstance 1-05-1980 85. Deal 1-05-1980 86. Althea 3-09-1980 87. Little Red Rooster 3-09-1980 88. Candyman 3-09-1980 89. Easy To Love You 3-09-1980 90. Far From Me 4-09-1980 91. Iko Iko 7-10-1980 92. Heaven Help The Fool 7-10-1980 93. Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie 9-10-1980 94. Ripple 9-10-1980 95. Feel Like A Stranger 9-10-1980 96. Never Trust A Woman 30-09-1981 97. Walkin’ Blues 28-05-1982 98. I Got A Mind To Give Up Living 28-05-1982 99. Throwing Stones 20-09-1982 100. Day Job 20-09-1982 101. Wang Dang Doodle 2-09-1983 102. Jack Straw 2-09-1983 103. I Just Want To Make Love To You 22-07-1984 104. Man Smart Woman Smarter 22-07-1984 105. Down In The Bottom/I Ain’t Superstitious 28-12-1984 106. She Belongs To Me 4-04-1985 107. That’s It For The Other One 16-06-1985 108. Willie & The Hand Jive 23-03-1986 109. Not Fade Away 30-03-1986 110. Mighty Quinn 30-03-1986 111. Funiculi Funicula 9-05-1987 112. When Push Comes To Shove 9-05-1987 113. Tons Of Steel 9-05-1987 114. My Brother Esau 9-05-1987 115. West LA Fadeaway 10-05-1987 116. Black Muddy River 10-05-1987 117. Touch Of Grey 12-06-1987 118. Hell In A Bucket 18-09-1987 119. Sugaree 18-09-1987 120. Walkin’ Blues 18-09-1987 121. When I Paint My Masterpiece 18-09-1987 122. Gentlemen Start Your Engines 26-06-1988 123. We Can Run 29-09-1989 124. California Earthquake 20-10-1989 125. Just A Little Light 26-03-1990 126. Picasso Moon 26-03-1990 127. Blow Away 26-03-1990 128. Built To Last 26-03-1990 129. Victim Or The Crime 6-05-1990 130. Foolish Heart 6-05-1990 131. Dark Star 26-09-1991 132. Saint Of Circumstance 26-09-1991 133. Eyes Of The World 26-09-1991 134. Interlude 26-09-1991 135. Interlude 26-09-1991 136. The Faster We Go The Rounder We Get 26-09-1991 137. Dark Star Part 2 26-09-1991 138. So Many Roads 22-02-1992 139. Wave To The Wind 22-02-1992 140. Don’t Ease Me In 22-02-1992 141. Way To Go Home 23-02-1992 142. Corinna 23-02-1992 143. Lazy River Road 21-02-1993 144. Eternity 21-02-1993 145. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again 20-07-1994 146. Samba In The Rain 20-07-1994 147. Salt Lake City 21-02-1995 148. Liberty 21-02-1995 149. Easy Answers 23-03-1995 150. Unbroken Chain 23-03-1995 151. Childhood’s End 9-07-1995
July 21, 2016 - 4:40pm

#32

Judgelinn

Joined:
July 21, 2016

Does Furthur count here too?

The final Furthur shows ever were in Mexico in January 2014. This is before Fare Thee Well was announced and before John Mayer gloriously entered our universe. We thought this was the end of the music ... They segued from Scarlett Begonias not into Fire on the Mountain but into the best Reuben and Cherise of all time. And then, under a glowing full moon at night they did the most lovely Standing on the Moon ever. My wife and I thought we were gliding to Fennario ... Jerry was there in spirit for sure and those may have been the most memorable Dead experiences ever for those few of us lucky to be there
June 27, 2016 - 1:52pm

#33

Graceful_Dead

Joined:
March 4, 2011

HiKauai for Openers

Try the nice folks at: help@setlist.fm Just a few keystrokes for them.
June 11, 2016 - 9:43pm

#34

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

Terrapin

9-18-87
May 30, 2016 - 6:33am

#35

NedZeppelin

Joined:
May 30, 2016

Best Of Dave's Picks (so Far)

Are there any lists of the best of Dave's? I could dive into it myself but figure someone with greater knowledge may have already tackled this, trying to make one playlist that is manageable in size.
May 10, 2015 - 6:00pm

#36

mkav

Joined:
June 30, 2007

geesefarts

Not a bad jam list at all...I would listen to entire shows tho. Just me
May 6, 2015 - 4:55pm

#37

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

HiKauai

Try DeadBase. You'll find it there.
May 6, 2015 - 2:08pm

#38

HiKauai

Joined:
May 6, 2015

openers?

trying to find a list of every opening song ever played. would love to see how many times each song was played, but will settle for just a list of song names. thanks in advance!
February 16, 2015 - 5:52pm

#39

Geesefarts

Joined:
February 16, 2015

New Member

Hi Everyone. Only got into The Dead about 4 years ago thanks to a good friend (and lifetime fan) taking me under his wing. I have a "favorites" CD that I burned that I listen to in the car mostly (I.e. good driving tunes) and would welcome everyone's comments as to my selection, here goes: 1) Oh Boy, Manhattan Center, 1971 2) Next Time You See Me, Fillmore East, 1971 (Ladies and Gentlemen) 3) Ain't It Crazy (The Rub), Fillmore East, 1971 (Ladies and Gentlemen) 4) Big River, Great American Music Hall, 1975 5) Franklin's Tower, Great American Music Hall, 1975 6) Promised Land, Stanley Theatre, 1972 7) Me And My Uncle, Jarhunderthalle, 1972 8) Sugar Magnolia, Fillmore West, 1977 (New Years Eve) 9) Hard To Handle, Hollywood Palladium, 1972 10) Playin' In The Band, Jarhunderthalle, 1972 11) Truckin', Fillmore East, 1971 (Ladies and Gentlemen)
February 14, 2015 - 8:51pm

#40

jamesbra

Joined:
July 3, 2012

Yes

Listening to this right now - 10/21/83 Wharf Rat. INDEED worth a listen and re-listen many times over. Solid.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Personal Favorites

So, what are your all-time greats?

I don't know why tis doesn't get mentioned more often. Maybe it was my state of mind the first time I heard it, but the China/Rider from Miami Jai Lai in June of 1974 is without equal. In the jam out of China Jerry keeps taking the band to higher and higher peaks with relentless speed and abandon culminating in an incredible creshendo that races into a furious equally fast paced Rider. Check it out!

Best of the Best of the Best............Sir!

Best Scarlet/Fire - 10/21/83 - Worcester CentrumBest Eyes - 9/3/77 Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ Best Jam of all time - Jam before Goin' Down The Road - 4/29/71 - Last Night at Fillmore East

This is like argueing politics....... here we go

Morning Dew - 4/28/71 Fillmore EastThe Wheel-6/18/83 SPAC -I SWEAR TO THIS DAY ,I WAS WITH ROBIN HOOD & FRIAR TUCK GOING THRU SHERWOOD FOREST Jackstraw-1/15/79 Springfield,Mass. Estimated-5/8/80 Glens Falls,N.Y. Halfstep>Franklins-10/20/78 Winterland L.L. Rain-4/18/82-Hartford

Glens Falls!

Oh….indeed….you are right on with that one! What a great show. I totally forgot about it until you brought it up. I’ve always been puzzled as to why 1980 gets swept under the rug (even by myself). I mean, let’s not forget the magical acoustic shows that were performed. Nothing like that was ever done before (well, maybe not since The Warlocks, or studio material) or after that. And so much of that year was just fantastic. Thanks for reminding me.

Best Scarlet>Fire

My favorite Scarlet>Fire is from 3/22/90 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.

Best Days Bewteen? ...and my New Speedway

I really loved that song, and it was getting better up until the end. I caught a few, but there were always a couple vocals flubs by Jerry that disturbed the flow. fall 94 at Boston Garden was one of the better ones I caught, but I wonder if there was one that they nailed at some point. If anyone remembers a particularly powerful and flowing Days Between please let me know, and better yet if you have a copy.... Oh and I have to mention the New Speedway Boogie from June 17th(?) 1991 at Giants stadium. Wow. If you like New Speedway as much as I do check this out. The interplay between Jerry and Bruce is incredible.

music never stopped

Has anyone heard the music never stopped from 10/29/79 to end the first set? One of my favorite versions of this song. It just keeps rising and rising until you think they can't build it any higher and then they go ahead and jump up another 3 steps. Mind blowing. Check it out. The whole first set is superbly played. A wonderful Sugaree, Mexacali, High Time among others but the Music Never Stopped is the gem of that show.

Looking for a smoking

Looking for a smoking Althea. Any recs?

A Singular Moment....

...shall we go, you and I while we can... There was a singular moment that occurred during every show that was so meaningful because it contained no music. It was the moment when the house lights dimmed, before the stage lights went up, as the band walked onstage. In that moment, you knew the band could take you anywhere they wanted to, and you gave in to it. It was the moment of the highest trust and vulnerability. The Grateful Dead never took anybody on a bad trip. Even on the off nights, the inherent good will of the musicians shown through. Thanks to Jerry and the rest of the band for letting me experience this 170 times. These were the highest moments of my life.

They Love Each Other

I am gettin married in Oct and would love our first dance to be to They Love Each Other....I am looking for some ideas about some versions that some others may think would work. I think something from JGB would be best, but maybe some 1990 with Bruce Hornsby.... just looking for some opinions!!!! Hit me up with a message if you have a thought about it!!!! much love, mike

Aiko 4-16-78

This one is so spicy I swear my speakers were dripping Tobasco.

big river

9- '72, Baltimore on Dick's Picks is a smoker.

This is just plain silly.....Darkstar>Spanish Jam 6-23-74

Go listen HERE If you don't know the download trick to get the mp3, just message me..... Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Best Ever Tunes

Howdy GD folks, hmm...it's always hard to say but some good versions off the top of my head are: Dancin: 02-14-70, atlanta 77, of which there is some bass drum beats that have me wondering what was going on exactly, NEVER heard the bass drum beat so fast, like ginger baker....I think it was mickey, but you never know...the only reason I would think it was mickey is becuase he is the research drummer if you will Sugar mag>scarlet>fire : 03-27-88 is on fire....this should be looked at for a commericial release, it's that strong, the fire on the mountain is great, nice groove, nice note choice by garcia, etc. the whole band is on...estimated that follows is really good too Dark Star 04-29-72 Hamburg, Germany, it's difficult to assess europe 72 tour is simply so well performed , this is a nice dark star Corrina : 06-15-93 , great performance, not a real fan of the tune, but the jam that comes at the end is so organic , and "indian like" not east indian, but american type indian terrapin station>jam , 06-23-93 , the show is very mundane , until this point after terrapin...it is similar in design to the early 70's, but the tonality is much more complex and modern, not simply a mixolydian type of tonality, a nice full twelve tone tonality, that is very mature wharf rat: 03-21-90, very well done on the instruments and vocals, the out jam is very strong china cat sunflower>I know you rider, 07-06-90 is very good, nice phil and jerry trade off's , phil playing is very strong during the segue jam into rider He's gone>jam , 07-06-90 Louisville, Ky. very nice jam, perhaps one of the best from 90's, very blues laden, but then does the triplet groove as in the other one on the out, nice phil playing on this one visions of johanna : chicago, 95 , jerry throws out his ear monitor and let's it rip, he singing this one from the heart, I almost think he knew that this might be the last time space: 06-19-93 chicago, mickey goes nuts on the beam, I never see him baseball swing like this before playing in the band: 06-06-93, out of UJB, which is usually the oppisite, this one goes to meltdown into drums, full twelve tone wierdness by the end of the jam, also jerry is actually using a wah wah pedal reminiscent of the early 70's Sugar Magnolia, 03-16-93, on the sunshine daydream, phil let's down on the volume pedal, on the F sharp to E natural kicks, I mean 20 kHz to the max, let the ole subwoofer put the vibe out, good version too Big River : 06-22-73 standard honky tonk , will Billy K playing a perfect beat on the snare, plus everybody else just letting it rip that's the short list, I could go on for days, most of this I actually saw, the other I've listened to many, many times Ursa Minor I wish that for just one time, You could stand inside my shoes, and for just that one moment, I could be you - Bob Dylan, Positively 4th St.

This is it!!!!!

Playing in the Band Winterland 10-09-72 GO LISTEN GRACE SLICK JAM FOLLOWS It's the scariest Playin i have heard..... Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

T.O.O.

Ratdog 12th August 2007 Lowell may not be the best but it is worth a listen, Dennis McNally reading Kerouac about Uncle Neal Bob - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spanish Jam

Sugar Mag

with my Moniker i had to make a choice on this I love the version on Ladies and Gentlemen The Grateful Dead Bob - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spanish Jam

1981

I ve got 2 really good ones right now. 3/06/81 Stanley Theater, JackStraw, Peggy-O, They Love Each Other,and Cassidy was in there but those 3 tunes are what got me on the bus. Very Hot. Then 9/26/81 Buffalo, Bertha>EstimatedProphet, and Morning Dew are very very hot as well. I'm a little partial to those because they were my first 2 shows, but give them a listen and I think you will all agree the band was 100% on!!!!!

sage words

Dick Latvala (may he RIP) made the point once that every time you slap on an old favourite (Dark Star, say) you're bringing a different set of ears to it because presumably you're not the same person as before. Which means of course there's every possibility you might like it less, or more, than the last time. Which also means of course these 'best ever' notions we get are fragile things. Of course he was right (well, not counting maybe if the last time you heard our Dark Star in question was yesterday, but you get the point). Why wouldn't it work that way? It can work that way when you re-read a classic novel for example, or see a great movie again for the first time in a while. So I'd like to second the notion voiced by others that it's not so much about debating 'best evers' as it is about pointing each other in directions that might be well worth investigating. With that thought in mind I'll leave you with....... Dark Star, 12.11.72. Oh my gosh!

Preposterous

Of course I can unequivocally state the best China-Rider ever......02-22-74.Ask me again next week and I'll probably say the same thing.

LLR

For the Looks Like Rain freaks (not sure I'm one but anyways) check out those from the spring of '72 on which Jerry plays pedal steel. I'm not sure he was ever of greater service to that song than w/ those versions. He made that thing cry.

Lovelight w/ Janis

6-7-69 Pigpen and Janis Joplin 'Getting It On' so bad you can smell it. Janis fills in the gaps where Pig's rantngs usually turn away those that heard it before. Killer stuff, Jerry's licks are On as well. Check it out if you can find it! "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)

TO LAY ME DOWN

During the MSG run of 1990. That was something.

Can't remember a killer Other One>Uncle from the early '70's

When I was in college, I had a handful of precious tapes. One had a fantastic version of The Other>Me and My Uncle. The tape was from the early 1970's. What were some of the best? This sounded like the horses were thundering across the plain, into a murderous melee. Any suggestions? The tape's been lost for years.

Re:Can't remember a killer Other One>Uncle from the early '70's

My money is on 12.1.71 Boston Music Hall. It blistered.

Odds & ends

Hard to Handle - 8-6-71 [on Fallout from the Phil Zone]Mason's Children - 12-28-69 Dancin' in the Streets (early arrangement) - 5-6-70 [Dark Star feel] Dancin' in the Streets (late arrangement) - 5-8-77 [endlessly inventive variations by Garcia - bonus track on Terrapin Station reissue] Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad - 5-19-74 [32? bar solo - Jerry just keeps going, better and better; of course the whole jam is great including Tico Tico] Foolish Heart - 5-25-95 [gave me chills] So many golden moments . . . DW

& ends

He's Gone - 12-15-72Wharf Rat - 12-31-78 DW Takes all you got just to stay on the beat . . .

Playin in the band

Favourite Playin'8/27/72 Jerry is just wild on this one.

Some faves

5/19/66 Midnight Hour5/2/70 Cumberland and from the ticket stub collection: 11/21/78 Truckin 10/27/79 Dancin > Franklin's 4/1/80 Promised Land (on different instruments); US Blues (Belushi cart wheels) 6/21/80 Playin' > Brent's Alaska jam 12/26/81 The Eleven jam 12/31/81 Dark Star 6/14/85 Keep on Growin' 6/16/85 Cryptical 6/30/85 Shakedown 3/2/87 Cassidy 10/9/89 Dark Star

the best of the best

Greatest Story Ever Told- 11/11/73... oh my god this version is so insane The Music Never Stopped- 5/3/77.. I really wish I was alive cause I would be going nuts, the band is having a great night and you could hear it. Donna's vocals are crisp and smoking hot. The jam is sick. Playing In The Band- 10-15-83.. This is one of my all time favorite shows. mickey and bill are so tight the whole second set. Jerry's playing reaches a new level on the jam. its unreal and goes into one of my favorite china dolls

Dark Star on Dick's Picks 4

Dark Star on Dick's Picks 4 is certainly up there - that incredible dissonant crescendo in the middle! Pure Dead. So were Casey Jones and Dancin'... those nights definitely deserve their long-standing reputation. I always loved Feel Like a Stranger on Without a Net and 04/01/80 the most (though I'm trying to re-find a keyboard-solo performance from the mid-'80s - that was amazing.) Shakedown on 01/10/79! Just heard it. Too many songs to mention now, though - but my all-time favorite concert so far might be 06-14-1968 :)

Two Personal Faves

I agree with many comments I've read that it's hard to pick all time favorites. My opinions change from day to day. However, here are 2 all time favorite versions, both for very personal reasons. My all time favorite version of Iko Iko is fron the Hampton Coliseum March 23, 1987. This was my first ever Dead show which I attended with two friends who had spent the last year introducing me to the music. My 8 year old son was also with us. He loved the song Iko Iko and was very attached to a dog one of my Dead Head buddies owned named Iko. In the parking lot before the show my son kept saying he couldn't wait to here Iko. We were all afraid he would be disappointed. I'll never forget my sense of wonder when during a break between songs in the first set the crowd started clapping out the rhythm to Iko and the band picked up on it and played the song!!! That's when my son and I realized this was not just a rock and roll concert! Can anyone tell me where I could get a good quality recording of this show (preferably with the audience participation)? My all time favorite version of Looks Like Rain was performed by Bob and Rob Wasserman in Richmond, VA shortly after Jerry's death (I think this was their first show after Jerry passed). Enough said.

Still Looking

I'm still leaving my options open on this one, but I have a few that stand out, probably b/c I've listened to them the most: -the China Doll off of Reckoning - when they nail that harmony on "just a little nervous" I get chills -Friend of the Devil off Dead set - even though when i tracked down the original I didn't like Brent's solo as much, it's still one the tightest well played solos I've heard -Sugaree - 5/5/77 (just heard this one and I'm still in shock) -Scarlet/Fire - 5/8/77 - call me mainstream -Mountains of the moon -> dark -> etc - 2/11/69 - this has been one of my favorite jams for awhile, but I'm wrestling with some other recently procured copies from the Fillmore West that may end up winning out. . . -LL Rain - just heard this ridiculous version on Sirius, they didn't tell me where it's from. Bobby says something like "now for a sad song" at the beginning and Jerry is playing slide on the whole thing . . . I'm hoping someone with a little more experience might know where this came from.

Re: Still Looking

Most probably you were listening to a version from the spring of 1972. Very possibly April 14th.

Some Personal Favorites

Dark Star- 11/11/73- Winterland- Simply out of this world, takes the listener through so many emotions and modes. Incredible! Eyes Of The World- 6/18/74 Louisville- My 2nd live tape ever. Still my all time fave for mellowness and good vibes Uncle John's Band- 4/10/83 Morgantown- It was a pretty average show until this point, then Jerry took over. I still don't know how Jerry can play so many notes in such a short span. Everyone there noticed. Lazy Lightnin--> Supplication- 2/17/79 Oakland- For the same reasons I like the Morgantown Uncle John's. Jerry rips it up! Other One- 11/29/80 Gainesville- Brent plays the best jams on this one ever. Super tight! Shakedown Street- 4/6/82 Spectrum- Jerry and Brent's interplay on the jam is out of this world! More Later.....

Simply Incredibly Scary

I have never been blown away like I was listening to a Scary version of Dark Star in Miami, FLA on 10/26/89....u have to take about 37 minutes, close ur eyes and dream! 143or245 stay safe and feel good!

The China Cat/I know you

The China Cat/I know you rider on without a net, Ive never heard a version that was so upbeat and powerfull. Also The Dark Star from RFK 6-10-73 is my own personal favorite. "You know the one thing we need is a left handed monkey wrench....."

St. Stephen/Cryptical/Other One/Cryptical

For me it has to be Dick's Picks 8, disc 2. My first show was December '73 so I never got to see this version of The Dead live. In my opinion this is by far their peak. Pig was still a vibrant part of the band, Jerry's guitar is alive and powerful, and the jams are incredibly tight. I typically play my music in "shuffle" mode, so now The Dead is only chance listen. However, when I sit back by myself with the headphones on, Dick's Pick 8 is most often my choice.

Any Dead version of Good

Any Dead version of Good morning little schoolgirl off any of their albums......dig that song! :)"May your dogs be with you"

The Eleven

This song makes me want to boogie all the way to the Milky Way, I think some nights I have.I don't recall ever hearing a weak version of this one. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. Wiliam Blake

A few of my Favs

This is a fun thread.Forgive me If I repeat some or mistake a date Hey Little One 2/25/66 Cream Puff War 11/19/66 He Was A Friend Of Mine 11/19/66 Doin That Rag 1/25/69 (?) Mountains Of The Moon 3/1/69 Hard To Handle 4/29/71 8/6/71 , also Canada DVD Bonus blanking od name Casey Jones DP3 Dark Star 11/11/73 Morning Dew DP7 Estimated Prophet►The Other One (of many) 11/4/77 I Need A Miracle 12/31/78 Little Red Rooster 7/14/84 Black Throated Wind 9/10/91 Baby Blue 9/10/91 Stagger Lee 3/24/93 Corrina►Mathilda►Drums 3/23/95 So many more, should I go on?

Edit

Make That Casey Jones DP11 (not DP3)

Killer Versions of:

Help/Slip/Frank 5/9/77 War Memorial BuffaloJack Straw DP 7 Morning Dew 12/27/89 Truckin' DP 34 (Toronto) Viola Lee Blues DP 22 Disc 4 of Steppin' Out England Europe 72 is sublime Dancin'/Frank on the new Road Trips '79 is KILLER

Who's to say...

Went thru this thread and saw some real interesting comments. I don't know if it's possible to choose which is the best version of songs but I'll go with three. First, the Sugaree from 9-2-80? It's a boot I used to own and have lost it transit. There was also a real good FOTD on that one , too. That Sugaree was real intense. Second, Jack Straw from Syracuse 1984. I think the actual date was 10-20-84. Hell, that whole Carrier Dome show was intenese. "The fire marshall is gonna shut down the show. Step, take step back." Hot Smokestack and Lovelight. Drove up from Baltimore on blotter. Guy driving was nursing a hangover and had no aspirin so he dropped. The rest of us did too. Enjoy the ride. Third, Morning Dew 1986 at the Spectrum in Philly. Came out of space with the one song that defined Jerry. After he finished, the boys walked off the stage. Place was going crazy. You can see this one on youtube. This band always brought out emotions of joy--this song the tears flowed so freely. The year before Jerry did this and his voice was gone, the jam real short, and Bobby carried the day. You just had to have seen the Dew in '85 to understand the '86 Dew. I remember holding my then girlfriend, both of us just crying as the song ended. Still sends chills right up my spine. watched it on youtube the other day and I still had tears flowing freely.

if

if you have some time, give this one a listen: http://www.archive.org/details/gd89-07-07.sbd.wiley.7855.sbeok.shnf good show.

This was a grate show. CCJ... JFK's last show

I was there with my sister( Miss u Patty!!) and a bunch of friends. I was pregnat with my twin girls ( now tuning 18 this month) WOW!! Awesome Scarlet Begonias!!

Three nice ones

From about December of ’73 through the “retirement” shows, Phil would sometimes (maybe half of the time or a little less), at the end of the second “Well the sun will shine in my back door some day” line in IKYR, include a little vocal embellishment on the word “day”. He would sing it kind of like “day-YEAH”. I loved this the first time I heard it – Phil’s obvious enthusiasm at those moments is just super-great to hear - and thereafter sought out shows where he did it. To date my favorite example is 6/20/74 Atlanta. I plan to check out the ’77 Peggy-O’s that have been mentioned in this thread, but I don’t really expect them to surpass, for my ears at least, the sublimely melancholy Peggy-O of 8/4/74, that appears on DP31. Finally there’s that haunting Ship of Fools from 6/23/74, with the beautiful instrumental intro, that opens Set 2.