Grateful Dead Best version EVER?

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So, what are your all-time greats?

live dead stephen ddhnm 2 from vault crazy fingers 1 from vault ds 2 14 70 black peter bear choice around and around 12 31 76 morning dew 5 2 70 truckin 4 26 72 looks like rain 3 25 72 cassidy reckoning music nev stopped 5 22 77 alabama go to nassau lovelight dp 16 ujb 12 31 76 gset stanley 72 friend of devil dead set bertha skullfuckc

Terrapin

There's been many great versions of Terrapin, but I like the one from the 09/13/81 show at the Greek Theater in Berkeley the best. It's the only version I've heard where the band goes through the middle instrumental part, not once (as always), or twice (which is rare), but three times they take you for a ride with the melody, giving Brent the lead for the start of the last go around.

Best show

Best show ever.................Dillon Stadium Hartford, Conn. 7/31/74

Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain

Man, it's hard to say what song/show was the best. But I'm quite sure that I like the version of Scarlet > Mountain from Hamilton 3-22-1990 as presented on the So Many Road Box Set very much.

My Favs....

China/ Rider 7/17/89 Alpine Valley (I am sure some of the early 70's versions might be better , but so far I have yet to find oneScarlet/Fire 11/8/77 Barton Hall, Cornell Univ. (amazing) Dancin' 2/26/77 Swing Auditorium ( Just Cooks) Shakedown Street 12/5/81 Indianapolis ( Jerry's Lead work just sounds like he is trying to just 'pop' the notes out, scaling fast, circling ) Lost Sailor/ Saint 12/5/81 Indianpolis ( the build-up and release between Sailor and Saint is orgasmic) Morning Dew 10/12/84 Augusta, Maine( Just Smoking) Sugaree 10/17/83 Lake Placid ( I loved alot of the late 70's ones, but this is just wicked) I could go on and on, alot of fun thinking of these, but it is all subjective, ain't it. I love this thread, makes me want to go out and listen to these picks. God Bless this Band, and all of us.

Scarlet/Fire 12-31-78

Trader X This is THE BEST version of this jam.....great tribute to the closing of SanFrancisco's finest dancehall.

best ever

RODGER ALLINSON The Help Slip Fire from 9-20-91 is truely remarkable granted its the only time they did it but the short second of dead silence after slipnot and the thunderous reaction into fire is truely amazing thank god for masters.

best ever

Live Dead.

favs

lets see... Ive got too many damn tapes and I havnt listen to many in a long time but also shows Ive been too etc.... mind left body jam from Reno 74 the Spanish jam from the show I saw in Chicago 92 Black Muddy River from Shoreline in 89 That would be something from LA 93 My 1st show...9/5/82 Shakedown>Playin Long may you run with Neil of course 11/3/91 Theres many more but Ill let you put those in...Eric

A Great Dew

In the car today listening to 5/23/72 (Dark Star>Morning Dew) and Jerry juxtaposed verses but what the heck, it was all from the gut. Since all was spontaneous, during the "Thought I heard a young man", verse, he does a call-response with himself that is so nakedly emotional it can only really be rivaled by the version from 5/26/72. (One day we'll hear it at its appropriate pitch!) Escuchalo! "From day to day, just lettin' it ride, You get so far away from how it feels inside, You can't let go, 'cause you're afraid to fall, But the day may come when you can't feel at all."

Chinese New Year

I think it was Feb.'94....but Jerry teased Cosmic Charlie just before a great Wharf Rat....Maybe it's cuz of the cosmic chuck tease and everyone literally on the edge of thier seats...but it will be a rendition that "will live in infamy" in my memory. "Half of my life... I spent doing time for some other fucker's crime"

Looks Like Rain...

I reluctantly admit I got into the band much too late in life...a couple of years after Jerry left us. I picked up a copy of Without A Net at a friend's urging, and the first song that nailed me to the wall was the rendition of Looks Like Rain. Beautifully orchestrated and accompanied, I simply fell in love with it. Sadly, the closest I ever came to seeing the boys live was an Other Ones show in 2000. It was a good show, but if I could travel back in time, I would love to see the band perfom in the early to mid 70's, my personal favorite era of the band. Mike

No Sadly About It

Islandmyk, that's my favorite time, too. Looks Like Rain is one of those tunes - the only way I expect to have heard it at it's best is from the tapes - and there are some great performances - check the Europe Tour bonus version - many agree it's one of the best! Bienvenidos! "From day to day, just lettin' it ride, You get so far away from how it feels inside, You can't let go, 'cause you're afraid to fall, But the day may come when you can't feel at all."

Here's another....

Peggy-O 5-5-77 One of the most beautiful solos Jerry ever played...This is 5-8's older brother..Just as good in my mind.... Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Staying with the 77 theme...

This was one of the crisper version's I have heard of ahref="http://www.archive.org/details/gd77-02-26.sbd.owen.23808.sbeok.shnf" target="_blank">New Minglewood Blues 2-26-77 At The Swing Auditorium Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Delete that last post please!!!!!!

We should have an edit post feature....Then this would not happen...Here is that Minglewood Blues.. Go here Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Incredible night in NYC

Grateful DeadFillmore East New York, NY 9-19-70 d3t01 - Dark Star -> d3t02 - St. Stephen -> d3t03 - Not Fade Away -> d3t04 - Darkness Jam -> d3t05 - China Cat Jam -> d3t06 - Not Fade Away -> d3t07 - Turn On Your Lovelight d3t08 - Crowd noise > Youngbloods: Get Together... -> d3t09 - Phil and Pigpen speak -> d3t10 - Youngbloods: Get Together -> Crowd noise

OK, I am listening to

OK, I am listening to GDRadio, real good mix, take a listen if you have not already They just played Winterland 10-18-78, and the Truckin' to close the show is freaking great, and the Miracle encore is just real sweet.

Short List of Best Versions

Viola: 5/2/70 (of course)Here Comes Sunshine: DP1 (I still play this song for my Dead-ignorant friends to convert them) Dancin' In the Streets: 5/19/77 (Notice how often 77 is mentioned). I am a huge Eyes of the World fan. Can anybody out there point me to some of their favorite versions?+

Eyes of the World

2/15/73 - Comes so startlingly sweetly out of Dark Star - Unforgettable! Stream it. 10/74 Winterland (box set) 9/03/77 Estimated>Eyes - The quintessential eyes (it's a Dick's Picks) Tres versiones nuevas para ti - vas a gozar! "From day to day, just lettin' it ride, You get so far away from how it feels inside, You can't let go, 'cause you're afraid to fall, But the day may come when you can't feel at all."

Death Don't Have No Mercy - 29.09.89

streaming... and Brent is amazing.. http://www.archive.org/details/gd89-09-29.ultramatrix.braverman.7282.sb… Namaste'

best version ever?!?!

Is this not like trying to pick favourite child? For Heaven sake it can't really be done!!!It's interesting too see replies and check out the shows... So many roads to trip down and explore Different versions at different points in life It will probably keep changing in life's evoloution

Stella Blue 10-21-78

BIODTL 04-26-71 Duane Allman and Jerry head-to-head Bertha DP18

Like Picking My Favorite Child.....

Relatively impossible but some favorites: 10/16/89 - Attics of My Life at Brendan Byrne (actually that whole second set) 3/24/86 - Box of Rain and Morning Dew at The Spectrum & 3/29/90 - Birdsong, Eyes and Dark Star at the Nassau Coliseum w Branford Totally different answers tomorrow.......

Thanks

Thanks deadicated. I will check them out.

Help on the Way

This was the second set opener . . .I had some friends who got there real early and had seats in the bleachers on the left side of the floor . . .I have never seen Oakland, save and except for the craziness of a parade or the like, so ON FIRE - the staff at the coliseum could not keep the dancing people out of the aisles . . .i don't know the exact stats as to how long it had been since the boys had busted out a help/slip/franklin's but i think it had been quite a while . . . and a very notable crazy fingers - jerry's solo is the sweetest thing these ears have ever heard - GOOSE BUMPS WIDE REMEMBERING THIS GEM . . .anyone else remember it like this??????~KRISSY~

Help on the Way 12/17/93 Oakland Coliseum

Queen Cadet in the house - the date for this was December 17, 1993 at oakland~KRISSY~

Best Ever

The Scarlet Fire from the Cornell 77 Show. Not only because I was there....The fire Starts off nice but by the end it is just massive. Like the old days at winterland, the sound seems to be coming from all directions. Very Impressive Paul

Best Ever

Oh by the way, The dancin' that closed the fist set at cornell 77 is also amazingJerry gets into the nitrous jam.. I'm sure there are many more... But you know this is a hard question Definetly food for thought Paul

One of the best ever

The "Saturday Nights" in the Fall of '71 are pretty much as good as they got. One where Bobby seemed to be feelin' it just a little extra was in St. Louis at the Fox Theatre, 12/10/71. It was the encore that followed a brief pause after already having toasted his vocal chords wailin' with Pig on NFA. Goodnight folks. "From day to day, just lettin' it ride, You get so far away from how it feels inside, You can't let go, 'cause you're afraid to fall, But the day may come when you can't feel at all."

harder question than String Theory...which makes it such a great

question.......I am so fickle that they change so often. I have best versions in different Dead vintages, etc...and they ALL change. A couple from the top: Stella Blue - 8.1.94 UJB - for the modern era - so many but 3.26.88 continues to dominate Eyes - modern day tie - 6.17.91 and 3.31.91; and so many 74 versions Terrapin - 2.26.77; 3.27.87 Shakedown - 6.30.85; 3.30.87 Scarlet - LMAO - almost impossible to nail one down but 3.27.88 is right up there; there are so many from 1974 and then there is Cornell and about 15 other 77/78 shows where this song steals the Thunder. Dark Star - many and often, 10.9.89 “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!”

Iko Iko/dew

Such a tough question. But one that stands out for me was Rochester 9/2/80. Came out of drumz with an amazing IKO IKO into Morning Dew.

my fav Wharf Rat

10-21-1983.....A perfect Wharf Rat...August West....stumblin around drunk on Burgandy Wine. This night every note they played was on...Its Brents B-day..@ the Centrum...Like fine wine this is a vintage worth a taste..Maybe they will make a DP? We need 83...

Dead in '67

I've had a great time reading people's favorite versions and scouring through my Dead collection or the Achieve to hear what you all have been raving about. Sometimes I'll hear a version I know I've heard before, but I think I'm hearing it with fresh ears. You all have excellent taste! Anyway, I was recently reading an old piece of early rock journalism written shortly after the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967. The writer (I can't remember his name) was ecstatic about the Dead's performance. It got me thinking: I have very few recordings from '67, and my knowledge of the music is scant. Can anyone point me toward a particularly excellent show or shows from '67? Many thanks! Oh, a few more of my personal favs: He was a Friend of Mine from the Fillmore West Bonus Disc Scarlet>Touch>Fire (Exact date unknown-my tape merely says The Greek 7/84 Yo Soy Boricua!

He's Gone 6/26/73

Absolutely wonderful "vocal jam" at the end. Jerry "This is but a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago." Box of Rain Lyrics by Robert Hunter Music by Phil Lesh

Comes a Time - Buffalo 5/9/77

Not just my favorite version of this song, it's one of my favorite Dead performances period. Jerry's beautiful long lead reminds me of his "Like a Road" solo on Live at Keystone album; both show off his ability to imagine dozens of stunning variations of a song's single melody. And the rest of the boys build a perfect sky for his flights.

Comes A Time & Loser

My two all-time favorite Grateful Dead performances. Comes A Time from 8-19-80, Uptown Theatre, Chicago. Incredibly beautiful. Loser from Englishtown, NJ 1977 (DP15) Wow. Thanks for asking!

One of My Favorites...

I really like "Lazy River Road" from 3-14-93 at Richfield Colliseum in Richfield, OH

My personal favorite Dark

My personal favorite Dark Star is September 21, 1972. Lasts roughly 37 minutes. It's delicious, if music can be summarized in such a way. It has three distinctly different parts, each with its own climax and beat.

Terrapin Station 3-18-77

GO LISTEN HERE Only the 3rd Terrapin ever, but this is with the one time only Alhambra Jam....I just love this ending jam....Does not make sense why the never attempted it live again... Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Dire Wolf

I just love this song - the studio version with pedal steel, the Reckoning version (that's the one in my ipod). This week, I listened to versions from 1/10/70, 5/26/72 and 10/11/77 in the car. The 70 and 72 versions were just OK. 77 was better - sort of loped along. They played it after a long Dancin so maybe they needed a breather. 4/10/78 is a good version (whole show is good, matter of fact). 4/4/85 rocks - Garcia's really into the vocal. 9/20/93, immediately following Race Is On, is full of energy (I have it on an aud tape and the crowd loves it). GrayFolded - 3/18/77 is a great all-around show, don't you think? I prefer the early 77 shows (from Feb through May) to the fall shows. One of my favorite Terrapins is one Phil and Friends did with members of String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks in 99. "Folk rock for groovin families!" myspace.com/chipwithrow chipwithrow.com

hmmmm...time for a couple more

Dancin from 5.22.77; - DP 3; Garcia is off the charts outragously good here; although the Dancin from Cornell is no slouch Peggy-O - 5.5.77; jerry just so smooth vocally and muscially; the notes slink and slide and become one; of course that could describe 1977 in its entirety more later “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!”

A HELL OF A SHOW!!!!!

QUOTE FROM SW FL CHIP -"GrayFolded - 3/18/77 is a great all-around show, don't you think?" Indeed my friend...A great show indeed...Scarlet>Fire to end a hell of a first set...And the 2nd set combo of Terrapin>Drumz>NFA>Stephen>Around is big time and I love UJB for the encore....I agree Chip,early 77 is in a league of it's own.......And by the way, I love Dire Wolf..Never found a live version that really moved me the way the album version did.... Dead to the Core www.myspace.com/bongwizard

Chimin' in

3/18/77 - a unique show - I've had a single cassette of it and always look forward to listening to it. I dig all the songs on Workingman's, but I think the three that are absolute diamonds are UJB, High Time and Dire Wolf. Each of the others has availed itself to opening either in a vocally nuanced or an extended jamming context when played live. I realize UJB has the D minor vamp that can go a lot of places live, but the vocals on the studio version are absolutely beautiful! Oigame! "From day to day, just lettin' it ride, You get so far away from how it feels inside, You can't let go, 'cause you're afraid to fall, But the day may come when you can't feel at all."

Top 5

Good Lovin'...Madison Square Garden (9/21/82). Turn On Your Lovelight...Nassau Coliseum (3/29/90). Thank you Branford Marsalis. Franklin's Tower...Hampton (4/9/83). Brent got quite funky with the opening. Midnight Hour...Oakland Coliseum (12/31/85) "So everyone here...is wishing you all out there...a very Happy New Year......From us to Youuuuuu." I Need A Miracle > Bertha...Madison Square Garden (10/11/83). "One of Jerry's speakers just barked its little heart out." Just my choices...for what THAT is worth...lol.

Some of my Favs

Jack Straw 8-27-83 Seattle - Phil drops some serious bombs, would like to hear a SDBWharf Rat 4-12-78 Durham NC - absolutely amazing Morning Dew 6-14-85 Greek - Probably not the best, but was on my first bootleg and love it. Dear Mr. Fantasy 4-14-85 Irvine CA - Comes out of space and a great version Music Never Stopped 6-28-85 Hershey PA - Opens set 2 with a great jam.

if i had to pick one

it would have to be "scarlet begonias" from the orpheum theatre in SF 7/18/76 ... i taped that show off the KSAN FM b'cast and listened to the cassettes incessantly for many many years ... in fact one summers night in '78 or was it '77, in the front yard on 47th & judah, in SF, i shared this tape with our new neighbors (just moved to SF from LA) who had never heard the dead ... they were instantly converted ... i still think it's the best version ever ...

The version of China Cat/I

The version of China Cat/I Know You Rider from Without a Net. Ive heard other really good versions but none with near as much energy "You know the one thing we need is a left handed monkey wrench....."

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October 13, 2013 - 12:58pm

#51

tennmatt

Joined:
October 13, 2013

standing on the moon

would love to know or be turned of to some of the best standing on the moon ?
September 28, 2013 - 2:11pm

#52

TN John

Joined:
July 29, 2013

Amen

Great version!
September 28, 2013 - 12:53pm

#53

Birdsong52

Joined:
September 28, 2013

Found this version of

Found this version of Birdsong over at Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll, a pretty groovy online-zine based on the principles we all grew up on!
August 20, 2013 - 5:12pm

#54

Gr8fulTed

Joined:
July 9, 2007

Vidbusters China Cat

Well Carl, I'm stumped. I've checked a bunch of China's and I'm sure it must be from the spring of 1972(Europe)or possibly 9-17-72. In addition, I do not have 11/14/71 nor 7/21-22/72, so check them if you have the Roadtrip downloads. Close contestants include San Antonio 11/26/72 and Long Beach 12/15/72. Due to the poor quality of your mp3 link from vidbusters it's tough to really pin it down. I do know that Keith Godchaux is on a Steinway grand piano, not an electric piano or organ, so I searched forward from September '71. It's possible the song could be from 1973, but I'd stay in 1972. I found several great versions: 10/24/71 Detroit, 12/15/71 Ann Arbor, 12/31/71 San Francisco, 8/21/72 Berkeley, 8/27/72 Veneta, 9/3/72 Boulder, 9/9/72 Hollywood, 10/18/72 St Louis, 10/26/72 Cinci, and Wichita 11/17/72. The Europe '72 version is wonderful: Paris > 5/3/72My personal favorites come in 1973 and 1974, when the "Feeling Groovy" jam appears within the transitional jam between China and Rider. Check out the Sunshine Daydream 8/27/72 video performance on YouTube: Sunburn city!!
August 17, 2013 - 6:32am

#55

Anna rRxia

Joined:
December 25, 2009

Carl, Your China Cat

Is going through an MP3. Could this make up some of the differences between the DP4 and musical variation you say is there? I don't think this is from Europe 72, having listened to all of them.
August 16, 2013 - 10:21pm

#56

franklintower88

Joined:
December 20, 2011

best china cat?

I think the best china cat was 6/16/74, assuming that rider is included
July 26, 2013 - 6:23pm

#57

carlhungeez

Joined:
July 26, 2013

China cat Sunflower

I have a version of the China Cat Sunflower song I feel is THE DEFINITIVE live version. Please have a listen -- I have attached the link stream below from my private collection. Here's the catch: I dont know from what live performance it is from, and Ive been looking for over 7 years. People say its from Dicks Picks #4, yet others say it's from Europe '72. I own both of those versions (which are spectacular), and although close, this still bares musical differences. If anyone can help me identify the show this is played from, I would be forever grateful. Thank you so much and enjoy the song. http://www.vidbusters.com/~gator/Chinacatsunflower.mp3 4:43 is liquid cosmic magic. . .and then it cuts out soon after into the dark and lord only knows what beautiful melodies lay beyond it. . . -Carl
July 17, 2012 - 3:53am

#58

MattyE

Joined:
June 29, 2012

does 8-27-72 have the most "best versions"?

I think so
March 28, 2012 - 11:22am

#59

littlesmoke

Joined:
November 20, 2009

bird song '73

ok, i heard this Bird Song on sirius. I beleive it said April 19, '73, but i could have read it wrong. Bobby plays this line with just two alternating notes - its so simple, yet so beautiful. Dead at its best, imho. Can anyone tell me where this song is from?
March 22, 2012 - 6:30am

#60

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

9-2-80 China>Rider revisited

Upon scrutiny, it actually sounds like Mr. Bob didn't come in where he was supposed to (that's where Brent's keys come in). I think what may have screwed him up a little is that they didn't all sing together as normal on the first verse. Jerry helps out after the Brent 'break' (where Bob was supposed to come in), and then proceeds immediately after with the correct lyric after helping Bob with his line. Either way, this version scorches! Just sweet. I just love the guitar filigrees Jerry adds which make this version truly unique.