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  • ripple70
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    Stella blue
    dozin at the knick jerrys solo brings a tear to my eye everytime.
  • Viola Lee Guitars
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    Loose Lucy....Oakland but when???
    Oh yeah, There was this tape i had back in the day, Oakland. It was the 90's and it was January or February 20something. Had the most smoking version of loose lucy I ever heard, better than 74.The 1st set also had Wang 'Dang doodle, a good one too as i recall, and i think cold rain and snow, does any know which date this was? I will look it up in Deadbase. That is the best loose lucy though. If any one finds out before me, I will send them a killer Allman 'Brothers bootleg! With Duane that is. I guess it would take me five minutes. I will Give you all one week. Maybe this can bring this thread back to life again. I want to hear about more favorites, I have such a hard time choosing what to listen to!! Hand me my old guitar and pass the whiskey 'round. Matt
  • Viola Lee Guitars
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    oops
    Just to be clearI meant that the greatest story ever told from 8-27-72 might be the only that is better than the one from 12-6-73. but China>Rider from 12-6-73.....well.....let's just say I'd bet the ranch on it! Hand me my old guitar and pass the whiskey 'round. Matt
  • Viola Lee Guitars
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    here are mine
    Well, this thread is just too much fun...so here are mine (I've been writing down all my fav's for a week and here are the best of what came to mind: Dancin In the Streets 5-11-78 The Warewolves is AWESOME too. just heard this for the first time a couple weeks ago, but it is definately the best one I have heard they are having such a blast. the one from Oakland 10-10-76 with wharf rat sandwich was my favorite but I havent heard it in years. Minglewood 3-9-81 no doubt, best ever. Cumberland 7-14-70 with David Crosby is my fav. might be tighter versions but this is my fav. El Paso 11-08-70 6-22-74 and steal your face New Potato Caboose 1-20-68, 2-3-68, 2-14-68, and the long version from the 68 mystery reels China>Rider for me 12-06-73 is the only best and always will be also from this show as mentioned are they love each other, greatest story ever told which for both are also my favorite all time renditions, veneta Or might beat it actually, but barely. and of course one of the best dark stars. He's Gone> 9-18-74 no words can do this one justice, just have to listen Truckin> 9-18-74 so many great ones, but after the he's gone this one is PERFECT Drums> 9-18-74 Caution> 9-18-74 Ship of Fools 9-18-74 this is a VERY moving version. The whole thing was on a dead hour and the whole thing is worth listening to but hes gone>trucking Is breathtaking, i guess i know every note and groan and snare and cymbal beat by heart, and PHIL PHIL PHIL throughout ;-) 1/2 step 12-31-72 which also has another monumental truckin as well and as mentioned david crosby on 12 string for one of my favorite morning dews. Cold Rain and Snow 2-12-89 Hell In A Bucket 2-12-89 had this on a tape I lost and forgot the date, found em again years later on etree, I love these versions of both. 5-7-72 From Dark Star to the end of the show is one of the best tape sides from 72 it has Dark Star>drums>other1>Sing me back home>Sugar Mag>lovelight>gdtrfb>NFA, e:onemore sat night. every note is on fire!! these are all top 2 or 3 best versions ever in my opinion, please LISTEN to them for your own enjoyment! I love the allman bros too, but my fav from them together is when Duane sat in on 4-26-71 on Sugar Mag, BIODTL, and It hurts me too, the lovelight from 2-2-70 is not the best ever but worth hearing if you never have before, it has the allman brothers band sitting in as well as peter green, mick fleetwood, and more, guess there must have been 18 people playing on stage! With Merl Saunders and Ned Lagin sitting in at Kezar Stadium, 3-23-75 is probably the best 45 minute set ever! 10-9-76 is probably my favorite entire set. set II is there an entire set that can beat this one? i guess I will get bombarded by Cornell, but I listen to this one more often. and Dark Star ( fav of the 90's ) is 3-30-94 which in my opinion is the best vince show. the space is AMAZING too, sounds like the whole world died and you just somehow survived. Well that was it Enjoy Hand me my old guitar and pass the whiskey 'round. Matt
  • PonchoBill
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    truckin'
    Any version were the buildup ( don't know the tech term) at the end of that song works. When it did , it was the best song on the planet.
  • Deadicated
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    Best versions ever ...
    The Sacramento, San Jose & BCT shows in August '72 are all tremendous shows. But then to cap them off with the 8/27/72, Field Trip, always leaves me in awe. It is one show I listen to religiously - I'm not sure how I'll feel should it ever be officially released. I love every tune and get really jazzed at the prospect of listening tonight to the versions of Bird Song, Playing In the Band and Dark Star. I don't own the video but I have seen it. I didn't get the feeling of the intense heat and its role as much as I did the light and how it contributed to the sense of a beginning, middle and end. Hope everyone in the community has a chance to check this marvel out. " Where does the time go? "
  • Gr8fulTed
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    Beatles Top 10
    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/194557 and the winner is.... "A Day in the Life"? what about "Honey Don't"? Dead-wise, I'm not sure whether I enjoy Jerry's rendition of "Dear Prudence" or " Lucy in the Sky" better.
  • dfew
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    Favorites
    Black Peter 12-13-80 Long Beach- by far the best I've heard . Top 5 show which also has my favorite Deal So Many Roads 9-18-94 Shoreline Ampitheater- one last extra solo and Jerry's vocal just gets me every time. Kills the Soldier's Field version on the So Many Roads box IMHO. Peggy-O and Althea 3-14-81 Hartford- still ranks as my favorite show overall,although the more I listen the closer others get Shakedown .>Franklin's 11-29-1980, another stellar show Agree with Hard To Handle Hollywood '71 and would say the audience version of that and Casey Jones just shreds. Morning Dewand BEW Barton Hall May '77 Stella great late version 11-29-94 Denver favorites on CD are the Ladies and Gents Sing Me Back Home and The Without a Net Eyes... plus of course the studio version of Box of Rain, never heard a live one that surpasses it yet. The fun is in the searching for more pearls and checking out recommended ones on lists like these.
  • Dragon with matches
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    Best version EVER
    So good to see someone posted this,my first tape was from Merriweather Pavillion July 1, 1985, I got this because I love Scarlet>Fire.What makes this so good is at the end of Fire prior to the Scalet riff,the boys just dive into this awe-inspring jam that,you have to hear to get it.
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    Hard Too Handle
    Hollywood Palladium 8/6/71 (date might be off). The famous one, where Jerry allegedly dropped to his knees during the super-awesome-intense-jam. My original vinyl bootleg of this show is better than than any downloaded version.
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So, what are your all-time greats?
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I have to say that my personal favorite Uncle John's Band was also my first, 5/21/82. To this day I sing Jerry's opening solo to myself. It's a really lovely version.
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I'll have to look that one up! Being that UJB is a personal favorite song of mine........
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Best ever Iko is 3-18-95 philly spectrum. The best ever So Many Roads is 7-9-95. If anyone can steer me in a different direction please do so, as I am alwys looking. TomBanjo
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little red rooster- 11/11/85 built to last-10/16/89 i need a miracle-12/31/78 cold rain and snow-7/4/89 row jimmy-7/4/89
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The Dark Star jam on Steppin' Out is pretty good I am biased as i was there The one Dark Star i wish i had seen live is 26th October 89 in Miami this is a MONSTER Bob W Spanish Jam
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Disc two of Dicks Picks 16 Bob W Spanish Jam
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An under rated song from a great show is the Sugar Magnolia from 7/13/84. That was a real Bobby show and his guitar work on the Sugar Magnolia and his use of the whammy bar is outstanding. Other fav's are: Bertha from 8/05/71 Hollywood Palladium when somebody knocks the mike out, so the intro is like 3-4 minutes long. Also from next day 8/06/71 comes my favorite St. Stephen so slow and under control, but totally powerful. Great version...and the show closing Lovelight.
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5-11-72 just shreds
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cream puff war - 3/18/67brokedown - 12/7/71 comes a time - 12/4/71 looks like rain - 7/16/72 bird song - 8/27/72 china>rider - 9/9/72 they love each other - 12/6/73 eyes of the world - 6/20/74 dire wolf - 9/10/74 help>slip>franklins - 6/14/76 stella blue - 7/18/76 morning dew - 4/27/77 _______________ insert obligatory signature here
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Most songs changed so much from when they were written over the years that it's hard to come up with a Best Ever. One performance of a particular song, however, is so head and shoulders above any other version as to obviously deserve this distinction: the Greatest Story Ever Told from the Venetta Oregon show, 8-27-72. Can anybody think of a GSET that even comes close? Neither can I.
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Had a live 80's tape of Robert Hunter rapping Fire. I don't think it was Mickey...hmmmm. Can anyone put a finger on where I might find this tune again?
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Well, for me the ultimate Dark Star is 11/11/73. The DEA should really look into scheduling this version of DS:)The Music Never Stopped from 5/9/77 is funky fun. I love this version! Bird Song from 12/31/90 with Branford is sublime. So Many Roads 7/9/95 never ceases to choke me up. Jerry's take on Positively 4th Street from the Garcia Plays Dylan album is brilliant. Jerry re-imagines one of the great put down songs as a heartfelt lament for lost love and friendship. Where Dylan was angry and mocking, Jerry is sad, wistful, and introspective. This take on the Dylan classic blew me away. Yo Soy Boricua!
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China>Rider: 5/26/73, even though it's cut.Dark Star: 2/13/70 Help>Slip>Frank: 5/9/77 Bird Song: 8/27/72 Viola 5/2/70 I would love to see running votes of favorite song versions from members as well as favorite shows of each year.
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the last china doll - 10/11/94. (maybe just because i was there on the floor, 'bout ten rows back).
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the wheel > round N round > Jonny B good with hornsby in the hot seat i can still see bruce tearing it up as he stands up and kicks his seat from beneath him.... rockin times
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Ever hear the 3/27/87 Touch? I was at the show in Hartford. For whatever reason the band and crowd really clicked on that one. I was on the floor about 10 rows back and the roar was magnificent.
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If you get a chance check out the 12/26/79 UJB. The solo is amongs of the most emotive playing I've heard from Jerry. Ooops, this was meant in reply to the first post on UJB. I thought it would just go to that person.
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Jack Straw -- 01/11/79Scarlet>Fire - 05/17/77 The Eleven - 03/01/69 Wheel - 03/29/90 China>Rider - 11/14/73 BTW - 11/14/73 Casey Jones - 05/13/72 Mr. Charlie - 05/03/72 1/2 Step - 11/06/77 H>S>F - 02/26/77 Touch - 11/10/85 Just to name a few.
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best ever for me was the 2nd set opener at Roosevelt on 8/06/74 included on the recent Dicks Picks.
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Other One - MSG '79 Soooo much energy ! (At least on my Tape) Mission In the Rain - Boston Music Hall 75? Encore : Satisfaction / Brokedown Palace (My FIRST show and in TAPERS SECTION) MSG 3/10/81 Also Shakedown 1982 Philly Spectrum is a favorit of mine...
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China Rider 9-11-731/2 Step 9-11-73 Saturday Night Dead Movie Bird Song 8-27-72, Reckoning Dark Star 12-31-78, DP 2, 11-11-73 Eyes Dead Movie Music Never Stopped DP 18 Peggy-O 12-27-77 Row Jimmy 5-8-77 Comes A Time DP 29 They Love Each Other DP 18 Truckin' 11-06-77 Brokedown Palace Dead Set Black Peter 4-14-78, 9-21-72
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The Wheel from The Fox in Atlanta. 11-30-80 Can't be topped. You must listen to the space into it. Dougles
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There are so manyand they change so often I am always finding a version of "x" song I love more than another. And there is the "live vs version" However Shakedown - 3.30.87 Ripple - 9.3.88 come immedately to mind. Rats, gotta get back to the mine............ Cheers! JG “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!” - unknown
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Favorite Blow Away (2 actually): Riverfront Coliseum 4/89 - dude got caught up in the moment during the Brent rap and got on stage, had to be escorted off. 10/26/89 - right after Estimated and right before Dark Star, weird placement and an over the top versionFavorite Estimated (2 again): the aforementioned 10/26/89 - some spacey jamming before they open set 2 with it. 9/2/80 - a spiraling solo from Jer that I wish would never end. Favorite Bertha: 12/31/87 - the band comes out firing, great solo "Got a few wrinkles but that's OK, hang out in the breeze and they'll blow away"
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but Brent singing "I Will Take You Home" to his little girl at the Shoreline Father's Day show was a moment I don't think anybody there is likely to forget. Dang, I miss Brent too.
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For starters: Lazy Lightnin'>Supplication 5/15/80 (Go To Nassau) - amazing!!! Playing In the Band 10/19/73 (DP19) - Drops into deep space so quickly - no filler- perfect. It Must have Been the Roses - 4/24/78 (Tapers Section) - great pick Dave Loser - 3/24/90 (Tapers Section) - I was lucky enough to be there.
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Heres my short list:2/27/69 Fillmore West The definitive version 4/8/72 Wembly Empire Pool Amazing!! 8/27/72 Veneta Or. Scary & sublime 9/19/70 Fillmore East Best "Feelin' Groovy" Jam 11/8/70 Capitol Theatre Port Chester NY Into Main Ten>Dancin' The Deads finest hour 9/24/72 Goes into some sort of demented hoe-down & China/Rider 2/13/70 Fillmore East Another definitive version 11/11/73 Winterland Long, strange & definatley a trip 12/6/73 Cleveland Convention Center In tune with the cosmos
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DP 35, disc 1 Hard to Handle cooks...Phil throws down some amazing lines behind PigPen (and a smokin' Cumberland follows)... and check out Medley on DP 12 as Frank Zappa said, Trust me, you'll love it...
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08-23-68 shrine auditoriumwhen you have a 30 mile drive into houston on 45 south going 70-80mph...this is the song! it is so blistering it's not even funny! it's amazing to hear this band synch up like they've been playing this same version for years. truely one of my favs of dead music! when it's just jerry and the drummers playing always floors me. true musical communication! i remember finding this on a bootleg cd that consisted of cuts off gans' dead hour in the '90's. i think it was called "the jerry garcia memorial". take care!
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9-20-90 It's the reason I am on this site now.
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9/3/77 For years this song never made much of an impression on me. Until this version opened me up to it. Also NFA from this show is definitely #1
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I have to concur with the previous post. The NFA from Englishtown is definitely the best all time version! Also the Estimated->Eyes has to be among the best ever pairing of the two. Espesially the Eyes! "The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean."
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eyes of the world 6-17-91,blow away 3-25-90
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cosmic charlie 5-2-70
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Hard to Handle - tie: 4/28/71 and 4/29/71Eyes of the World - 10/19/74 I Know You Rider - 5/2/70 Bertha - 3/21/94 Good Lovin' - 4/17/71 The Weight - 3/28/90 Sugaree - 5/22/77 (many from that year are a close second) I tried to think of a best version of Dark Star, but it is such a complex and crazy tune that I think it deserves its own seperate thread... Rick Do or do not; there is no try.
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I spent about 4 days searching through my old tapes, casettes and reel to reels, searching for some Looks like Rain I had seen way back when... the one that seemed to last forever... finally, right before the old board got cut off, I found the one... or was it just ab\nother really grate version? we may never know. all things seemed to go on forever that night. 10/17/84 another reason to bring the old board's content back, hint hint... I had to look through all my tapes AGAIN because I spaced on the one I found a couple of weeks ago... ( -; peace. "The highway is for gamblers, you'd better use your sense. Take what you have gathered from coincidence"
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I love that DS, GrayFolded - especially with the Deal chaser - KILLER!!! "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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Would have to say that the Lake Placid sugaree in '83 is the all-time greatest version of this song.
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I seem to recall that Sugaree - I think 10/17/83 was one of the first tapes I ever got. Sort of a tinny audience tape, like many were in those days.12/28/79 is a great Sugaree, as are several of the loooong versions from 1977. Also there's a show Hornsby did in maybe 96 or 97 in which Weir showed up for Sugaree. That's a good one. Later in the show Phil came out too. "Got a few wrinkles but that's OK, hang out in the breeze and they'll blow away"
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From the recently released Cow Palace NYE 1976--I've had that tape since '77--still holds up after every listen
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Looks Like Rain - 4-2-90Eyes of the World - 10-1-77 Lovelight - 3-29-90 Iko Iko - 2-29-90 Morning Dew - 5-8-77 Jack Straw - 12-29-77 Beautiful Jam 2-18-71 (between Wharf Rat and 2nd part of Dark Star) ok apparently I like 90 and 77 a lot...