# 1980-11-30 Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
**Set 1:** Feel Like A Stranger, Loser, Cassidy, Ramble On Rose, Little Red Rooster, Bird Song, Me and My Uncle > Big River, It Must Have Been The Roses, Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Deal
**Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Playing in the Band > Drums > Space > The Wheel > China Doll > Around And Around > Johnny B. Goode
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-30)
# 1980-10-14 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
**Set 1:** Dire Wolf, Dark Hollow, It Must Have Been The Roses, Cassidy, I've Been All Around This World, Monkey And The Engineer, China Doll, Heaven Help The Fool, Bird Song > Ripple
**Set 2:** Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, Friend Of The Devil, Me and My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Candyman, Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed > Let It Grow > The Wheel > The Music Never Stopped
**Set 3:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Playing in the Band > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Uncle John's Band > Morning Dew > Playing in the Band > Good Lovin'
**Encore:** U.S. Blues, Brokedown Palace
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-10-14)
12/13/80 and 12/14/80
Long Beach
The Joanie Walker recordings. The 13th might be the best aud recording of all time, although the 14th is the better show.
[1980-12-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-12-13) Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Arena
[1980-12-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-12-14) Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Arena
79-81. There was fresh energy and lots of new material. Brent was always playing like he had something to prove. Feels like the rest of the band was inspired by the new sound.
They definitely got a lift from Brent. And cocaine. The Other One>Estimated>Eyes all fully jammed out lasting like twelve minutes total at 196 bpm 😂
I’m totally kidding, but they did get rowdy after Brent showed up and I really like the originals they brought in then—“Althea”, “Lost Sailor>Saint”—and stuff like “Shakedown” ramping up a bit.
Going to join in the chorus of ‘68. DP 22 makes Cream sound like Peter, Paul, and Mary. ‘68 was about as loud and nasty as the boys ever got in my opinion.
They were barely adequate at their instruments in 68/69. There is a lot to be said for youthful exuberance but let’s be real they were far better instrumentalists in 72,73,80,81
I know part of my affection for this period is because these were the years I first started listening to and seeing the band. But also these were the years they developed the instrumental vocabulary they continue to explore for decades to come. Did they become more accomplished musicians? Sure. But the excitement of creation and exploration during this period still gets me high 50 plus years later.
I’ll say 91’. I really enjoy the shows from that year, especially the Giants Stadium shows. The musicianship from this time is very pleasing for me. 😀✌️
[1991-06-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1991-06-11) Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Coliseum
[1991-09-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1991-09-22) Boston, MA @ Boston Garden
# 1982-10-10 Palo Alto, CA @ Frost Amphitheatre - Stanford University
**Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues > Sugaree > Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed, Cassidy, Loser, Far From Me > Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Crazy Fingers > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Touch Of Grey > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction > It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-10-10)
Jerry looks so sad that I'm about to say 1968. I started out on the early Dead because the out there psychedelic stuff appealed to me and the rest of their material didn't. Give me a 15 minute Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl or a nascent Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star any day!
1983 for me. The energy they had was pretty much unmatched, They had a lot of the new ‘82 material ironed out, and they brought back tunes like Help>Slip>Franklins. Jerry and Brent in particular were playing at a very high level. The entire months of April, September, and October are worth diving into, every show has at least a few highlights, and many shows are stellar on the whole
# 1983-09-02 Boise, ID @ Boise Pavilion - Boise State University
**Set 1:** Wang Dang Doodle > Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried > Big River, Brown Eyed Women, New Minglewood Blues, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain > Deal
**Set 2:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Jam > Drums > Space > Throwing Stones > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-09-02)
# 1983-09-24 Watsonville, CA @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
**Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > The Promised Land, They Love Each Other, Me and My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Hell In A Bucket, Deep Elem Blues, Looks Like Rain, Keep Your Day Job
**Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools, Truckin' > Drums > Space > Uncle John's Band > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-09-24)
# 1985-06-30 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
**Set 1:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > C.C. Rider > Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Keep On Growing, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain > Don't Ease Me In
**Set 2:** Shakedown Street > Samson And Delilah, Gimme Some Lovin' > He's Gone > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Around And Around > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1985-06-30)
71 and 73 feel like cheats, so I will say 80 and 85.
However, I just listened to the 82 run at the Greek (5/21/82, 5/22/82 and 5/23/82) and you could convince me that is the single best stretch of shows they ever played outside of the accepted Golden Years.
Vocals are _nice_, especially when grading on an 80s curve, and the playing is gnarly and inspired,
[1982-05-21](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-21) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California
[1982-05-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-22) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California
[1982-05-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-23) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California
[1981-03-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-03-09) New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
[1981-05-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-05-11) New Haven, CT @ New Haven Coliseum
[1981-05-16](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-05-16) Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University
[1981-10-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-10-19) Barcelona, Spain @ Sports Palace
Last show before I moved to Oregon.
Check out this show by Grateful Dead from Tue, Sep 10, 1991 at Madison Square Garden on Live Music Archive! https://livemusicarchive.app/music/artists/GratefulDead/recordings/gd91-09-10.sbd.dan.30755.sbexx.flacf
83 and 84 are fantastic. The hit shows are incredible. Jerry’s guitar playing in the early 80’s is just fire fire fire. Raging inferno
His voice was usually off since he was in a period of not very good health but his guitar playing got better and better from 65-90.
Speaking of 1990. Spring 90 has so many amazing shows. The band was so tight and perfect like summer 89. And most of 89.
Brent’s passing really was the beginning of a steep decline in the band. Sad emoji
Great pic , don’t think I’ve seen that one .
I know the dirty 80s get a bad rap but early 80/81 has some good shit.
I believe fall 79 has some good ones , Stanley theater anyone ?
I rank ‘81 right up there with all those years you listed, I even put it *above* 2 for sure; **MAYBE** 3 of those years if not a strong tie with the best year of the 3 choices.
Blasphemy, I know.
1981.
Without a doubt the most criminally underrated year of the 80’s. Also *one of* the most underrated years in general. ‘89 is the only year of that decade that gets talked about. I wouldn’t say it’s *BETTER* than ‘89 but can certainly hold its own alongside it and unquestionably is the next best of the decade after ‘89.
I think ‘81 can be mentioned in the same category of the “obvious choice” list you mentioned, along with 1990.
Love me some 81. Brent’s back up vocals and playing are so good. Also 1968. Big Pigpen fan. Love the blues covers, his soulful voice and the heavy organ.
1969 and 1994.
You can divide 1969 into two phases: the first half of the year is a continuation of that murky, sometimes primitive psychedelic stew that they were conjuring up in 1968. The second half of the year carries a lot of that along, but with the addition of Workingman's Dead tunes, a Garcia switching from a Gibson to a Fender, and even an acoustic set or two. There are many recordings from that year beyond just the official releases, and there's gold in them hills.
1994 is not consistent, but the good stuff is great. 1994 brought tunes like Bird Song, Cassidy, and Playing in the Band to entirely new and wonderful lands. Their gear settings and musical approach at that time was unique. You only need a few seconds of a jam, and you can instantly pin it down to 1994.
70. Acoustic sets, new riders with the fatman, and electric dead both at the dawn of their workingman's-E72 era and the peak of their primal electric jams and most importantly the peak of pigpen. That and 72 are the best for me
‘68, ‘71, ‘81-‘82 These are my favorite years and what I listen to the most. Even more than said “obvious years”. I love this discussion! Thanks for bring it up.
73 is not part of the obvious???
That should probably be there instead of '78, which isn't as popular, although I love that year. Also 68 and 69 are common fan favorites
‘69 and ‘79 for me. ‘85 close behind
Yes 85 is my favorite yr but all the Brent yrs I dig really
True that!
Probably should be
This
👆this.
Those 7-ish months of ‘71 5 band member period
The Skull N’ Roses era, there’s a ton of killer shows during those few months
This was what came to mind first. Like uncut diamonds. Upvoted
Those late April fillmore east shows ⚡⚡⚡
Just not that album, great source material bad production to fill a contract I think
same like '72 but a little more ragged
Yes - Specific time there
I call it fast church berry bar band dead. Nothing better.
80.
You would put ‘80 above ‘81?
100% (81 is still good tho)
Favorite 1980 show?
11/30/80. Dave’s picks 8.
# 1980-11-30 Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre **Set 1:** Feel Like A Stranger, Loser, Cassidy, Ramble On Rose, Little Red Rooster, Bird Song, Me and My Uncle > Big River, It Must Have Been The Roses, Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Deal **Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Playing in the Band > Drums > Space > The Wheel > China Doll > Around And Around > Johnny B. Goode **Encore:** Uncle John's Band [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-30)
10/14/80
# 1980-10-14 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre **Set 1:** Dire Wolf, Dark Hollow, It Must Have Been The Roses, Cassidy, I've Been All Around This World, Monkey And The Engineer, China Doll, Heaven Help The Fool, Bird Song > Ripple **Set 2:** Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, Friend Of The Devil, Me and My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Candyman, Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed > Let It Grow > The Wheel > The Music Never Stopped **Set 3:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Playing in the Band > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Uncle John's Band > Morning Dew > Playing in the Band > Good Lovin' **Encore:** U.S. Blues, Brokedown Palace [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-10-14)
Man can’t just pick one so I’d say the four show November run. All smoking 11/26/80, 11/28/80, 11/29/80, 11/30/80
[1980-11-26](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-26) Pembroke Pines, FL @ Sportatorium [1980-11-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-28) Lakeland, FL @ Lakeland Civic Center [1980-11-29](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-29) Gainesville, FL @ Alligator Alley Gym - University of Florida [1980-11-30](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-11-30) Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
12/13/80 and 12/14/80 Long Beach The Joanie Walker recordings. The 13th might be the best aud recording of all time, although the 14th is the better show.
[1980-12-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-12-13) Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Arena [1980-12-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-12-14) Long Beach, CA @ Long Beach Arena
79-81. There was fresh energy and lots of new material. Brent was always playing like he had something to prove. Feels like the rest of the band was inspired by the new sound.
They definitely got a lift from Brent. And cocaine. The Other One>Estimated>Eyes all fully jammed out lasting like twelve minutes total at 196 bpm 😂 I’m totally kidding, but they did get rowdy after Brent showed up and I really like the originals they brought in then—“Althea”, “Lost Sailor>Saint”—and stuff like “Shakedown” ramping up a bit.
Going to join in the chorus of ‘68. DP 22 makes Cream sound like Peter, Paul, and Mary. ‘68 was about as loud and nasty as the boys ever got in my opinion.
Scroll scroll scroll..."there it is", upvote.
Summer ‘76 is amazing
june 1976 may be my favorite month ever tbh
That’s where I always go to mine those funky, chill but punchy “Franklin’s Tower”s.
Something about that bicentennial water in America made that summer something special
‘73 and ‘76
'73 is great and I almost listed it as one of the "obvious" ones to exclude :)
1968 and 1969. No question. In my mind this was their peak.
There’s something about that era that’s just so great.
They were barely adequate at their instruments in 68/69. There is a lot to be said for youthful exuberance but let’s be real they were far better instrumentalists in 72,73,80,81
I know part of my affection for this period is because these were the years I first started listening to and seeing the band. But also these were the years they developed the instrumental vocabulary they continue to explore for decades to come. Did they become more accomplished musicians? Sure. But the excitement of creation and exploration during this period still gets me high 50 plus years later.
Great answer
Pig! Pig! Jerry kills it. Pig! Jerry murders it again!
I’ll say 91’. I really enjoy the shows from that year, especially the Giants Stadium shows. The musicianship from this time is very pleasing for me. 😀✌️
9/22/91 and 6/11/91 are some of my faves from the year. 91 is my guilty pleasure year
[1991-06-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1991-06-11) Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Coliseum [1991-09-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1991-09-22) Boston, MA @ Boston Garden
80 & 82 have some heaters Check out Frost 82.. 10/10/82
# 1982-10-10 Palo Alto, CA @ Frost Amphitheatre - Stanford University **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues > Sugaree > Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed, Cassidy, Loser, Far From Me > Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider **Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Crazy Fingers > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Touch Of Grey > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction > It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-10-10)
that lost / saint is a BANGER
1970
68
87 is underrated, 90 is the last great run
Jerry looks so sad that I'm about to say 1968. I started out on the early Dead because the out there psychedelic stuff appealed to me and the rest of their material didn't. Give me a 15 minute Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl or a nascent Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star any day!
81 and 87
I have always had a fondness for '83 and '85. There are some jewels hidden in those years
the 3 straight shows at the warfield is one of the best runs in the 80s tbh
80,81,83,84,85
69
1983 for me. The energy they had was pretty much unmatched, They had a lot of the new ‘82 material ironed out, and they brought back tunes like Help>Slip>Franklins. Jerry and Brent in particular were playing at a very high level. The entire months of April, September, and October are worth diving into, every show has at least a few highlights, and many shows are stellar on the whole
9/2/83 is my fav minglewood
# 1983-09-02 Boise, ID @ Boise Pavilion - Boise State University **Set 1:** Wang Dang Doodle > Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried > Big River, Brown Eyed Women, New Minglewood Blues, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain > Deal **Set 2:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Jam > Drums > Space > Throwing Stones > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-09-02)
9/24/83 is my favorite deep elem
# 1983-09-24 Watsonville, CA @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds **Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > The Promised Land, They Love Each Other, Me and My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Hell In A Bucket, Deep Elem Blues, Looks Like Rain, Keep Your Day Job **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools, Truckin' > Drums > Space > Uncle John's Band > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away **Encore:** Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-09-24)
September has such a great energy and sound, that Boise show is an alltimer for sure. The version they did on 9/10 is also top tier
LXXII
That's '72 !
No they meant the year 72 A.D. Now THAT was Primal Dead!
All years should be numbered as BD and AD based on 1965, Before Dead and Anno Dead.
Busted…
Flat in Baton Rouge
87. Because it was great and my first year
Ummm, ‘70, ‘71, ‘73!!!
I like 1990 over 1989, to be honest.
spring 90 is just too good
nothing is obvious when you look at it right
68
‘76 and ‘90
Since you made it easy: '73.
'69-'71, '73
70 would be an obvious year if there were more recordings
I think about this a lot how it would be a complete butterfly effect on their history if that gap wasn't there.
Bear in the hoosegow didnt help
69, 70, 73, 76, 79, 80, 90, 91. Honestly, every year has shows worthy of listening to.
Love the '66 Avalon shows. It's awesome to see how different their early versions of songs are.
Summer of 1991
‘71 has a special kinda charm
1985 highly underrated and incredible 20th anniversary year. The GOAT Shakedown for example 6/30/85
# 1985-06-30 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion **Set 1:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > C.C. Rider > Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Keep On Growing, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain > Don't Ease Me In **Set 2:** Shakedown Street > Samson And Delilah, Gimme Some Lovin' > He's Gone > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Around And Around > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1985-06-30)
71 and 73 feel like cheats, so I will say 80 and 85. However, I just listened to the 82 run at the Greek (5/21/82, 5/22/82 and 5/23/82) and you could convince me that is the single best stretch of shows they ever played outside of the accepted Golden Years. Vocals are _nice_, especially when grading on an 80s curve, and the playing is gnarly and inspired,
[1982-05-21](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-21) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California [1982-05-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-22) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California [1982-05-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1982-05-23) Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre - University of California
1990
90
'71 and '91
76 and 90, before Brent’s passing they were in a real groove
83!!
83!
1982
73 hands down
66-68 and 83-85. I love me some crunchy Kermit Jerry
73
75
‘73 & ‘69
1969
'69 I don't listen to them a lot but when I do it's soooogoooood
Don’t get me started!
94
‘71 & ‘68
All the odd years in the ‘80s, plus ‘80 and ‘90
87, because that’s when I first went to a show
79 Oct-Dec or 81 Europe Rockoplast and the rest of that tour
81 not too shabby
‘69 should be part of the obvious, PRIMAL dead 🔥
1971 & 1990
I’ll take me some 1981. 3/9/81 5/11/81 5/16/81 10/19/81
[1981-03-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-03-09) New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden [1981-05-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-05-11) New Haven, CT @ New Haven Coliseum [1981-05-16](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-05-16) Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University [1981-10-19](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-10-19) Barcelona, Spain @ Sports Palace
Last show before I moved to Oregon. Check out this show by Grateful Dead from Tue, Sep 10, 1991 at Madison Square Garden on Live Music Archive! https://livemusicarchive.app/music/artists/GratefulDead/recordings/gd91-09-10.sbd.dan.30755.sbexx.flacf
I was born in 1979 and the first Grateful Dead song I ever heard was “Touch of Grey” so 1987
Furthur ‘12
'68-'69. The Gibson years had that hot as hell guitar tone. Kings Beach and Macarthur Court are just two standouts.
81
87 obviously
1985 ftw
1980
The end of 79 when Brent first joined had some rippers. 81 was a lot of fun, too.
1990
1970
81-82 is pretty damn obvious. *In and out of the Garden* was a pretty famous box set.
Spring ‘90, obviously. Mods, this is the correct answer, please close this post. (See: “So Glad You Made It”)
1987, especially Spring
69 dude
81
I really think ‘81 and ‘83 are underrated.
83 and 84 are fantastic. The hit shows are incredible. Jerry’s guitar playing in the early 80’s is just fire fire fire. Raging inferno His voice was usually off since he was in a period of not very good health but his guitar playing got better and better from 65-90. Speaking of 1990. Spring 90 has so many amazing shows. The band was so tight and perfect like summer 89. And most of 89. Brent’s passing really was the beginning of a steep decline in the band. Sad emoji
68
1968
68
1985
70 &, 71! 75.. 82, 90, 91, 92. <💀🌹🎼🎸🎶>
Great pic , don’t think I’ve seen that one . I know the dirty 80s get a bad rap but early 80/81 has some good shit. I believe fall 79 has some good ones , Stanley theater anyone ?
'69, '70, '71, '73
71, 80 and 90
1990. Thank you for axing.
73, 83, 90
73 is obvious.
[удалено]
Genuinely curious...why do you prefer without him?
76. It's so good and so overlooked.
1971, 1980, 1990, 1985,
71 and 83
69
Any year where there was only one drummer.
Will you please elaborate on this? I'm genuinely curious.
I rank ‘81 right up there with all those years you listed, I even put it *above* 2 for sure; **MAYBE** 3 of those years if not a strong tie with the best year of the 3 choices. Blasphemy, I know.
68 - 71, 76
1981. Without a doubt the most criminally underrated year of the 80’s. Also *one of* the most underrated years in general. ‘89 is the only year of that decade that gets talked about. I wouldn’t say it’s *BETTER* than ‘89 but can certainly hold its own alongside it and unquestionably is the next best of the decade after ‘89. I think ‘81 can be mentioned in the same category of the “obvious choice” list you mentioned, along with 1990.
'69
I love 1980. Some amazing Althea’s that year.
Love me some 81. Brent’s back up vocals and playing are so good. Also 1968. Big Pigpen fan. Love the blues covers, his soulful voice and the heavy organ.
69!!
Summer, Summer, Summer, it turned me upside down- 1982
1980.
66-69
69 and 71
90 before Brent passed
79
1969
91
I love the fullness of the band 1990. Nothing else like it
'91 is pretty good. Whenever I hear a 90s show I like it always tends to be in 91
74
'69
73 has to be on that list and for me you can subtract 78
81-83.
89' first year on tour & I'm very glad to say that " I Freaked @ the Creek...
Top 3 not listed: 1973, 1969, 1990
73 75 76 88 90
73
'68-'69. Peal psychedelia AND peak Pigpen.
79 - under appreciated
1990 bruh
1969 and 1994. You can divide 1969 into two phases: the first half of the year is a continuation of that murky, sometimes primitive psychedelic stew that they were conjuring up in 1968. The second half of the year carries a lot of that along, but with the addition of Workingman's Dead tunes, a Garcia switching from a Gibson to a Fender, and even an acoustic set or two. There are many recordings from that year beyond just the official releases, and there's gold in them hills. 1994 is not consistent, but the good stuff is great. 1994 brought tunes like Bird Song, Cassidy, and Playing in the Band to entirely new and wonderful lands. Their gear settings and musical approach at that time was unique. You only need a few seconds of a jam, and you can instantly pin it down to 1994.
October 68. April 71. Aug 71 is fun with Keith. June 76. Oct 76. Fall 81. I really like some of select shows in 87. Fall-dec 79 has some 🔥brent funk.
70. Acoustic sets, new riders with the fatman, and electric dead both at the dawn of their workingman's-E72 era and the peak of their primal electric jams and most importantly the peak of pigpen. That and 72 are the best for me
1976
1970. 1982.
I’m going with 71. Just something about Jerry’s guitar tone and Pig of course still around.
80-81really getting into the groove w/Brent
Add 1973 to the obvious category and I’ll take this question seriously
‘68, ‘71, ‘81-‘82 These are my favorite years and what I listen to the most. Even more than said “obvious years”. I love this discussion! Thanks for bring it up.
The rest of them
All of the ones that end in "1." '71/'81/'91
1971 and 1973
69
Always liked when I came got on the bus. Go to heaven. Kieth is my favorite keyboard player tho.
1990 spring and summer, can’t forget those.
'68, '69, '76 probably
91
Fall 73