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  • wilfredtjones
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    it's 12-6-89
    Reading the reviews, it was quite important to a lot of folks that were there. It was the Earthquake benefit. 12-6-89 from Oakland. It sounds nice with Clarence Clemons. FWIW, My fave SOTM is 12-28-91.http://www.archive.org/details/gd89-12-06.sbd.miller.14917.sbeok.shnf
  • Harrington
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    Best SOTM
    So that was Clarence! It was just amazing, I was reading a book about Garcia and there was some mention of this show, or something that made me think I might have a copy of this show, anyways... I went searching and it was just so cool when I realized I had a great quality cassette of the very show I was reading about. Thanks, Wilfred T. and be well for many years. Harrington p.s. (no longer black lassie - identity crisis lol)
  • hippyjameZ
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    Found a Groovy site for Best Versions ...
    http://headyversion.com/ love searching through these and listening to all the submissions ...
  • marye
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    in general
    I think forgetting the lyrics often proved a real godsend for the jamming...
  • Sun King
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    SPAMMER!
    go away samson77
  • Harrington
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    Need help identifing date of "best" "Standing on the Moon"
    Back in the early '90s I became friends w/ a serious taper nicknamed "Rockitt" from Jersey via school in Albany (Rockitt if you read this it's Pat). Anyways he used to cut tapes for me when we got together. I never labeled them thinking I'd have a hobby when I got older and had the time - well time's here! After about 70 or so shows I ended up pretty familiar with our heros! I also realized that my friend Rockitt cut me tapes of some of the best shows ever, for which I will be forever grateful. So: I have a set that looks like a New Year's set but I'm not sure. I can hear Brent and a horn player, the set list is Scarlet>Sugar Mag>Ship of Fools>Terrapin Drums/Space Wheel>Watchtower>Standing on the Moon>sunshine Daydream Jam It contains a version of Standing on the Moon that's better than any other version ever or just about any other tune from any live performance from anyone ever (can you tell I really like this cut (and I'm nuts...)?)! Any help with the date will be mucho appreciado - I know I could hunt for it, but I'm just too arthritic and medicated sometimes.... Thanks
  • bessbeetle@yahoo.com
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    Best Jack Straw
    Ok, I know "best" is a loaded term, but I always go back to 6/16/91 Set 2 for the tasty licks.
  • flavaham
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    Need your best Crazy Fingers
    I've been playing/learning Crazy Fingers on guitar so I'd like to hear some of your favorites! I've been listening to the version from One From the Vault and also downloaded a show from Winterland, 6/17/75 (first version of the tune). I like both versions a lot, but I'm sure someone on hear can pick one just off of the top of their head that will blow my mind!! Haha. Thanks! -Gabe
  • samson77
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    Great things in business are
    Great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people.Thanks for sharing the informative post. Regards. Sell Iphone
  • hd2k
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    My favorite "modern day" versions....
    While there are MANY great versions of Scarlet > Fire, and they change in overall sound from each "period". For example: the early '74 versions of Scarlet are generally shorter, non-jammy numbers. When Fire hit the scene, it originally wasn't a barn burner (but was more-so than the early Scarlets). When the boys hooked 'em together, they were on to one of their great song marriages. The mid-late '70's versions are VERY different from the early '80's versions, and these are VERY different from the late '80's versions. However, in early 1990 (I believe the Oakland Chinese New Year run 02-25 thru 02-27) the boys first started playing with MIDI. I may be a bit biased 'cuz this was my first show, but the Scarlet > Fire from 02.26.1990 is freekin' AMAZING!!! The segue jam goes all over the place, includes church bells at one point, Mickey makes a beast of himself, and the jam comes close (several times) to dissolving in to Space. Ok, Jerry forgets the lyrics more than once in Scarlet, and at least once in Fire, but musically it's monumental. Bobby also completely destroys the Bucket lyrics to open the show. Since it was my first show, I wasn't very familiar with the "natural order" of a Dead show, and the blue unicorns had me quite out-there, so I didn't realize what I had actually experienced until years later when I finally rec'd a tape. The show BLEW MY MIND, but everyone's first show does. It wasn't until much later when I listened to the tape (over and over and over) that I realized what a fun 1st set it was, and how AWESOME that Scarlet > Fire is. That is easily my all-time favorite Scarlet > Fire (but I'm biased ;) ). Of course, I have many other "2nd place" versions, but the version from Oakland 02.26.1990 is easily my favorite. The rest of the 2nd set includes a nice Playin > Terrapin > Drumz, and a somewhat rare Baby Blue encore. I discovered the boys a bit late in their careers together, but managed to see over 125 shows in 5 short years, and I feel VERY lucky to have even seen one. So many people missed out on a truly unique amazing and fascinating experience. The entire second set from Brendan Byrne 04.01.88 is a beast. On paper, the set list almost looks like a "greatest hits" set (I've seen this set labeled as "generic 2nd set material" just because of the songs played, but it's HOW they were played that matters, right?). I know it from memory I've listened so many times: China > Rider; Estimated > Eyes > Drumz > Space > Other One > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away; E: Brokedown Palace. The China > Rider is awesome, a tad short, but the power of it leaves you speechless. The post-Drums is where the true force of the set lies. The jam from Space into The Other One is amazing, and The Other One is one of the most truly mind blowing and experimental-yet-cohesive versions I've ever heard (from '85-'95); plus it has really cool "laser" sounds! While some people don't truly appreciate Throwing Stones, the version here doesn't stop building and jamming. The energy in it ebbs and flows, and at moments you don't think it can build anymore, then it explodes to a whole different ecstatic level - it ROCKS! I think this show was released as a Dick's Picks or Road Trips CD set, and it's is truly worthy of such a release. Standing On The Moon from Eugene Oregon 08.21.1993. Amazing. Truly amazing. Brings me to tears every time. Jerry is so powerful and heart-felt... wow. I'm getting goosebumps and my eyes are tearing up just thinking about it..... Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower - Eugene Oregon 08.22.1993. Again - awesome. This was the 2nd set opener. It was excellent when I saw it at Autzen, and even better when it caught me surprise on the David Gans Grateful Dead hour . . . . uhhhh . . . . WOW! Jack Straw - Eugene Oregon 08.22.1993 - this was the show opener, and Bobby's guitar was giving him some type of problem, so he walked off stage in mid-song. I was in the bleachers behind the stage and saw Bobby literally smash the guitar to the ground. While this was going on backstage, Jerry started jamming.... and jamming, and jamming, and he jammed a bit after that jam, and followed that with another jam. It rocked! There was also a microphone issue, at one point Jerry just comes in with "...change, ain't that Heaven sent...." instead of "...took my rings and four bucks in change, ain't that Heaven sent...". Again, I was there and I may be biased, and again, I didn't realize just how awesome this Jack Straw was until I heard it on tape a couple of weeks later. I was too wrapped up in watching Bobby backstage throwing the guitar around and getting all POed! (yes - I was at this Eugene run, and the entire run will stay with me FOREVER! It wasn't only the music, it was everything- this was one of the few venues where there was still parking lot camping next to the stadium, and what a great spot: right next to the Willamette river in beautiful Oregon; naked folks swimming in the river, climbing the trees.... I did every Eugene run in the '90's and camped each time, and the '93 run was IMO by far the best; I'm getting all teary-eyed-and-goosebumpy again just thinking about it) I didn't list anything before 1985 for a reason, there are already SO MANY great versions of great songs already listed here from what is generally recognized the Grateful Dead's "heyday": up to 1977/78, that I decided to list my favorites from the "modern age" of the Dead.
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So, what are your all-time greats?
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Iko Iko - 2-27-90
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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
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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.
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Best show ever.................Dillon Stadium Hartford, Conn. 7/31/74
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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.
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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.
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Trader X This is THE BEST version of this jam.....great tribute to the closing of SanFrancisco's finest dancehall.
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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.
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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
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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."
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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"
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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
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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."
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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
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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.
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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?+
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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."
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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
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BIODTL 04-26-71 Duane Allman and Jerry head-to-head Bertha DP18
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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.......
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Thanks deadicated. I will check them out.
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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~
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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
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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
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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."
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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!”
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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.
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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...
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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!
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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
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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.
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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!
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I really like "Lazy River Road" from 3-14-93 at Richfield Colliseum in Richfield, OH
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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.
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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
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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!”
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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
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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 ...
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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....."