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Poster: jgummerm Date: Oct 19, 2006 3:16am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Great Versions

Dear Heads,

I first saw the dead in 72 and figure I saw them over 200 times before The End. At this point I'm looking for great versions of any of their songs from any era, by which I mean passionate, tightly-played, well-recorded, with minimal if any lyric flubs. I've gotten many great suggestions from this forum the last couple of years, e.g. the UJB from 12/31/84, which is almost there, except for they blow the lyrics on the first refrain, and the recording is a little distant. In other words, I'm being hyper-critical, but there's so much to choose from and so much to go through, and it's amazing how in a show that might otherwise bite there can be this little pearl lying buried in the muck! So I'd love to hear about any gems, big or little, that you'd care to share.

Thanx Mucho

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Poster: Scrim Date: Oct 19, 2006 9:45am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

Stella Blue
6-28-88
Saratoga Springs, NY

The Jerry solos in this version are hair raising, they give me chills everytime I listen to it. Crank it up, sit back, and try to hold back a tear....

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Poster: Dhamma1 Date: Oct 19, 2006 5:04am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

This sort of question has come up here often and people have been generous with their recommendations. I once searched the Forum and copied the following threads to my PDA for reference. The first section is cumulates many recommendations by frequency; the others are individual people's, including the impeccable ones of Dr. Flashback.

These are lists of best "shows" rather than best versions, but may help you navigate the 2,300 offerings on LMA nonetheless.

- Michael

************

Best Shows by IA Readers
"what would you say the best Grateful Dead show on the archive is, meaning best sound, performance, songlist..."
The following shows were mentioned in 4 threads that pursued this question:


8 people mention 3/1/1969 not available at IA
7 5/8/1977
6 8/27/1972 not available at IA
4 9/3/1977 not available at IA

3 2/14/1968
3 6/18/1974
3 5/9/1977
3 10/29/1977
3 7/8/1978
3 3/29/1990

2 2/13/1970
2 4/29/1971
2 2/9/1973
2 5/26/1973

2 2/24/1974
2 5/19/1974
2 6/9/1977
2 12/29/1977
2 5/6/1981

2 9/18/1987
2 7/17/1989
2 9/20/1990
2 9/10/1991

1 8/21/1968
1 10/13/1968
1 2/27/1969
1 2/28/1969
1 4/21/1969
1 11/2/1969
1 11/8/1969
1 12/12/1969
1 2/11/1970
1 5/2/1970
1 4/28/1971
1 4/24/1972
1 4/26/1972
1 5/11/1972
1 9/28/1972
1 6/10/1973
1 9/11/1973
1 11/11/1973
1 12/2/1973
1 2/24/1974
1 6/28/1974
1 8/6/1974
1 10/18/1974
1 8/13/1975
1 6/24/1976
1 2/26/1977
1 5/7/1977
1 11/6/1977
1 10/21/1978
1 12/31/1978
1 3/13/1981

1 5/1/1981 "specially critical if you're a fan of ALTHEA, LET IT GROW, DEAL, BIG RIVER, and first sets in general"

1 8/28/1981
1 10/16/1981

4-19-82 has the (in)famous "RavenSpace" in which the boys indulge in nitrous on stage and Phil quotes from Poe. All of which overshadows the fact that the show is incredible, especially the 2nd set which features one of the best ESTIMATED's ever, along w/an amazingly beautiful STELLA BLUE, terrific WHEEL, and much more.


1 7/28/1982
1 7/31/1982
1 8/10/1982
1 9/11/1982
1 5/14/1983
1 10/15/1983
1 10/17/1983
1 10/21/1983
1 11/2/1984
1 6/25/1985
1 6/30/1985
1 7/8/1987
1 3/31/1989
1 7/18/1989
1 8/19/1989
1 10/9/1989
1 10/16/1989
1 3/26/1990
1 3/30/1990
1 4/1/1991
1 6/14/1991
1 6/17/1991
1 5/27/1993
1 9/22/1993


**************************

The Top Ten Question

Poster: stratocaster Date: April 15, 2005 09:58:33am Forum: etree /etree>Subject: The 10 Most Essential Grateful Dead Shows The Grateful Dead played over 2,300 shows in their 30 year career. The line-ups and the music (and drugs ;P) changed over the years, but the musical ideology basically remained the same. The bands improvisational and organic style lends itself to discussion and review of the subjective nature. This list is a humble attempt to list the 10 most "essential" GD shows ever. Criteria include: musical and vocal performance, sound quality, historical significance, recording quality, among other things...

1. 08-27-1972--Veneta--The best and most psychadelic and spiritual performance in the Dead's career. The bootleg film "Sunshine Daydream" captures the afternoon's activities.
Highlights are many...China-Rider, Playin', Greatest Story, Bird Song, Dark Star>El Paso, Sing Me Back Home...

2. 12-31-1978--Winterland--The best New Year's Performance. The Dead and Bill Graham close Winterland in style. A+ set list...they do everything...

3. 04-29-1971--Fillmore East--the last night of an excellent April run by the Dead. Hard to Handle , Alligator, Cold Rain>GDTRFB are some of the many highlights.

4. 05-08-1977--Barton Hall--Sure it might be over-rated, but to not have this show in a top 10 list would be asenine. Top shelf versions of Dancin, Scarlet>Fire, Estimated, St. Stephen>NFA>Morning Dew...the band's in peak form.

5. 02-13-1970--Fillmore East--This show capture the boys at their best during the American Beauty days...Smokestack Lightening, Dark Star (lysergic), Lovelight are huge...

6. 03-29-1990--Nassau Coliseum--Branford Marsalis guests on sax and the band finds heaven in set 2. Bird Song, Eyes of the World, Dark Star, Knockin' On Heaven's Door...

7. 03-01-1969--Fillmore West--best show of the 60s. The American version of the Magnificant Seven serve up the stew during Cryptical>O1, New Potatoe, Dark Star, Lovelight...

8. 06-18-1974--Freedom Hall--Incredible 74 show. Great sound quality and premiere versions of Wake of the Flood songs. Jazzy Dead.

9. 09-20-1990--MSG--This is the most intense show of the 90s. Bruce Hornsby is with the band at this point. Explosive set 2.

10. 08-13-1975--Great Amercian Music Hall--very unique show deserves a place in everyone's collection. Blues for Allah material is played beautifully in this intimate setting. (This is the official View from the Vault 1)


****************

Dr. Flashback's Top 10 Lists (* simply means I haven't listend to it yet myself)


1969 -
1/26/69
2/22/69
*2/28/69
*3/1/69
4/5/69
4/21/69
*4/22/69
*5/24/69
11/8/69
*12/30/69

1970 - speculative, so much is unknown.
*1/2/70
*1/23/70
2/11/70
2/13/70
*5/2/70
5/15/70
9/19/70
9/20/70
10/31/70
11/8/70

1971 -
*2/19/71
*4/5/71
*4/28/71
4/29/71
7/2/71
11/7/71
*12/6/71
*12/10/71
12/14/71
*12/31/71

1972 -
*4/8/72
*4/14/72
*5/11/72
*5/26/72
7/26/72
*8/24/72
*8/27/72
*9/17/72
*9/21/72
*12/31/72

1973 -
2/15/73
*3/24/73
3/28/73 - part. SBD, Dark Star>Eyes>Playin. Nuff said.
5/26/73
*6/30/73
*10/30/73
*11/11/73
*11/17/73
*11/21/73
*12/6/73

1974 -
2/24/74
*5/14/74
5/21/74
*6/16/74
6/18/74
*7/31/74
*8/6/74
*9/18/74
*10/17/74
*10/19/74

1977 - nearly impossible, throwing darts blindfolded.
2/26/77
*3/19/77
5/4/77
5/7/77
5/8/77 - sorry, but it has to be mentioned, lol.
*5/25/77
6/9/77
10/2/77
10/29/77
11/4/77

*********************

Best of each year

From IA forum:

September 30, 2006 12:27:40am
Forum: GratefulDead /GratefulDead> Subject: Re: best of each year
Hi there, been listening to shows off this site for some time, but only recently began reading the forum messages, now find it quite addictive. Thought this was an interesting posting, so thought I’d add my two cents. Found it difficult to narrow it down to one, so how about top two shows for selected years?

1969: Fillmore West Shows that produced both Live/Dead and the more recent Fillmore West 1969 3 CD set, plus 6-7 Fillmore West with Janis Joplin.

1970: May 2 Binghamton and the free show at MIT 2 days later (it was cold out there but they really rocked the university) oh yeah and the February Fillmore East shows, on the 11th and the 13th.

1971: either 4-28 or 4-29 (which has some incredible free flowing jams) though overall 4-28 is a more solid show

1972: 8-27 is good, though my pick is for Stanley Theater, 9-28…..how about St. Louis 10-18….a seriously underrated show (Phil on that Dark star is eerily similar to Venetia).

1973: Maples Pavilion 02-09 and Kezar Stadium 05-26

1974: Boston Garden June 28th Winterland 10-18.

1976: Beacon Theater June 14th and Cow Palace 12-31 (man, I haven’t heard that show in years, I used to have it on cassette)

1977: Buffalo and Cornell May 8th and 9th and Swing Auditorium 2-22

1978: The Close Encounters show 1-22 and 2-5 Cedar Falls, IA.

For me, creatively speaking, it all began to plateau after 1978......though they were some good shows (1985 Greek Theater, 1988 Laguna Seca Speedway, spring '89 shows) but nothing like these. Later,


Poster: Liamfinnegan Date: September 30, 2006 03:28:13pm
Forum: GratefulDead /GratefulDead> Subject: Re: best of each year

1969 3-1 and 11-8 Dead Heat

1971 12-10

1972 9-21-72

1973 11-11-73

1974 10-8

1975 8-13

1976 6-28

1977 9-3

1981 3-9

1982 4-6

1983 9-13

1987 4-6 (final Dancin)

1988 4-1 (one of only 3 ballad of the thin man- smoking Deal- one of the best first sets of the year- maybe top ten for the decade)

1989 7-7

1990 9-20/6/16 tie again

Reply [edit]

Poster: cosmicharlie Date: Oct 19, 2006 6:28am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

THANK YOU, Dhamma1 !!
That post is a keeper! Lot's of great info, I even printed it out for reference

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Poster: blacklakelight Date: Oct 19, 2006 6:55am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

I agree, great stuff, many thanks. As for 4-19-82 and the band on nitrous-- man, I'd forgotten all about that one. Was Margaret Mead there? She should be there!

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Poster: Dhamma1 Date: Oct 20, 2006 4:10am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

No problem. It's good to be able to give a little something back here.

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Poster: JodyC Date: Oct 19, 2006 6:29am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

Wow. That was quite nice of you. Thanks. Should be mandatory reading for all new Heads and seriously considered by older Heads.

Reply [edit]

Poster: jgummerm Date: Oct 19, 2006 10:33pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Great Versions

Wow! I have a lot to check into. Much, much appreciated.