my all-time fave (for today) has gotta be 7/7/78 Red Rocks, bouncy, fun, and everybody seems to be into it - including the crowd! oh, to have been there for this run!!!!
Let It Grow 9-2-79 This is the first Brent LIG and also the longest ever!!!
Dark Star>Eyes 11-11-73 The Mind Left Body Jam in the middle of all this is perhaps the best of that as well
Sugaree 12-28-79 If you haven't heard this, this is a must listen.
Keep Your Day Job Any version that was not in the encore slot. Although an interesting theory has been thrown around that a Day Job encore means the whole show is smokin hot
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Initial studies have concluded that repeated exposure to Grateful Dead music may be habit forming, and can result in a permanent change to the psyche of the listener. While no one has successfully reversed this condition, it can sometimes be controlled to
Samson and Delilah from Radio City Music Hall - 10/30/80
Salt Palace 73. Epic.
All I can say is WOW, this song is haunting and as powerful as I've ever heard Jerry from the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds.
I start almost everyday with a cup of joe and Jerry belting this out. I close my eyes and see John Coffey (big guy) from The Green Mile as "The warden lead the prisoner to his doom" and his last words are "Let my guitar playin' friend fill my request" and Jerry is sitting there singing him back home with the gospel choir in the background...very powerful.
Give it a listen...
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-08-27.sbd.bertha-ashley.21619.sbeok.shnf
Also just listened to the 8-1-94 Stella Blue and it certainly is a fantastic version as a poster pointed out...I was at that Birthday show and Jerry really poured his heart into it and let it all hang out...awesome !!!
a most amazing dancing in the streets i ever heard i listen to it about once a week or so.... i just get off so much when i hear it...then they blend right into dire wolf..do your self a favor get it and dance dance dance in the street ( watch for traffic)
Just finished listenin to the China Cat Sunflower from 3/23/74 and i gotta say it's fantasic. It has that same 4-chord-UJB rhythm i was talkin about. Good stuff man. Thank you very much for sharing =] Hope you enjoy 11/14/73.
gibsonrocker800, I don't believe I have heard the version you speak of. My current favorite jam of all time is the china cat into rider on 3/23/74 @ the cow palace. Pure magic. I will check out the 11/14/73 version though to see how they compare. Please give this a listen too if you havn't already. It happens to be on Dick's Picks 24 though it's not the complete show.
My all-time favorite version of any song is from 11/14/73. The China-Cat is unlike anything you've ever heard. During the part where they jam into IKYR, the whole mood of the song changes into these other 4 chords and it is the most fantastic piece of music i've ever heard. Jerry's lead makes me want to cry, its so powerful. Perfect addition to any deadhead's collection.
Also, the "Eyes of the World" from this show is also my favorite version. It's perfect.
Locations
...but currently:
China > Rider 2/24/74
Eyes 10/19/74
Half Step 5/7/77
The Eleven 10/12/68
Ripple 10/11/80
Help > Franklin's DP3
Playin 8/27/72