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This is obviously a subjective exercise so all have our favorite and least favorite shows/time periods/band configurations/tours etc. Personally, i think there were some stellar shows during 1978 and think 2 of the best of the 209 I saw between 1977 and 1995 were 4/15/78 William & Mary College and 11/14/78 Boston Music Hall. I also really like the two from July at Red Rocks and many think the Madison show on 2/3/78 among their very best.  12/31/78 I consider to be another stellar show and the video of 4/12/78 is priceless. For me at least the 93-95 period were clearly the weakest and also not a big fan of the shows i saw in 86. Tapes from 76 can sound a bit sterile as many in such clean soundboard quality and clearly overtaken by '77. 

 

I used to not think very highly of '78 because there were some pretty plodding and lethargic shows, mainly when Keith was not really engaged or playing much, as folks mentioned above. Seems that a lot of these came in the second half of the year, although there were shining moments then, too, like July Red Rocks and the Winterland October shows.  12-31-78 is a good example of plodding '78, and  I, unlike jw harding, don't even think the 3rd set is very good.

 

But then I discovered Spring tour from '78 like those awesome shows in early Feb as has been mentioned, and just about everything in April which just blazes!  I'm also one who likes things heavy and rocking, pedal to the metal.  I've never been one to say "this groove is so laid-back" and think of that as a positive.  I've become much more a fan of '78 since the Archive made all those shows available for hardcores to study and point out the previously underappreciated gems and the peaks in the Dead's live history.

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Regarding Dave's #25 11/6/77. Good show and worth a few listens. Not sure about Jack Straw being among the best ever, but it is good.

You must be referring to my comment, which was that the Binghamton Jack Straw is my personal favorite version. Not the best ever. I couldn’t say any version of any song is best ever, but I have a few personal favorite versions, and this is my Jack Straw favorite.

 

 

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You must be referring to my comment, which was that the Binghamton Jack Straw is my personal favorite version. Not the best ever. I couldn’t say any version of any song is best ever, but I have a few personal favorite versions, and this is my Jack Straw favorite.

 

 

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I think I did recall you saying that, but think I've heard it in other reviews as well. These first set kind of songs, the reasons for preferring certain versions can be very personal. Regardless, I love a good Jack Straw.

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Been trying to listen to JGB 8/11/74 lately. The recording is fantastic but it features the insipid musical stylings of Martin Fierro. I just cant get past the way he plays the sax. I hear no improvisation or energy just languid boring bleats. The flute playing is a bit better but still.......flute? Whats up Jerry, you high or something?

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I don't mind most of that stuff. Some really good/out there jams with that '74 line up. Love the "Neighbor, Neighbor"s, "Harder they Come"'s, " "He Ain't Give You None"'s, etc.

 

Try some of the shows as Great American String Band from earlier in summer/spring with Dave Nelson, Taj on bass, Sandy Rothman...

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Lammy, you like everything. Me, I'm implementing a life long ban on anything containing Fierro starting.......now!

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Lammy, you like everything. Me, I'm implementing a life long ban on anything containing Fierro starting.......now!

Well, I do have some dislikes. I hear you with some of his material with Legion of Mary, but overall I like his work with Garcia, as well as with others (the Doug Sahm/Sir Douglas stuff and Zero stuff, for example).

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What about horns with the Dead during Sept. 73 tour? Can't say I am too, too famillar with any of the shows. I don' think much or any from Sept. 73 has been offically released. 

 

http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/horn-tour-september-1973-tour-itinerary.html

Latvala did not dig the horns, either, but does compliment parts of 9.10 and 9.11.73. Heh:

http://www.agitators.com/gd/dick_1973.html

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Starting with the 1st show with horns - 9.11.73. I am sure have listened to it before. Always enjoyed The Race is On - wonder why Weir dropped it, for the most part, after 74. It would have fit nicely during his cowboy segments of the 80s/90s.

Always enjoyed Donna's vocals on the 73/74 versions.

 

 
Grateful Dead Live at William and Mary College Hall on 1973-09-11
 

 

Set 1 
Promised Land, Sugaree, The Race is On, Loser, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider, El Paso, Mississippi Half Step, Playin' In The Band
 
Set 2 
Let Me Sing*, Weather Report Suite Prelude*-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow*, Row Jimmy, Big River, Deal, Beat It On Down The Line, Dark Star-> Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia
*with Martin Fiero and Joe Ellis on horns. Doug Sahm opened; First Let Me Sing 
 
Notes

Martin Fierro plays on various songs.

 

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For me, the 73 horns tour was a mixed bag. I generally disliked nearly every horns rhythm and/or solo. If I remember correctly, they mainly performed during the Eyes, Let It Grow, Let me sing your blues away, with the occasional truckin'.

 

But, that was (imho) arguably Jerry's finest year. During such horn shows, Jerry was on fire. Interesting also that the "horns" tour was 8 shows and they only performed PITB 4 times (frequency much higher for 1973 prior to and post "horns" tour).

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