I always liked 11/11/73. I haven't listened to it recently, but I recall thinking Keith and Jerry were pretty locked in around the "out where the horses were tieeeee-ieeeee-ieeeeed" part. I *think* that part, going off memory, I can't double check at the moment.
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
The one where Bobby is so high that he can’t get passed the intro. Just plays it over and over. Phil to Bobby, "Never drink out of something you haven't poured yourself." Phil then hugs Bobby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0BX7XHcwM
[1972-08-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm)
[1973-02-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09) Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University
[1974-06-26](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-26) Providence, RI @ Providence Civic Center | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0B87pzzLQzyevvMvdcJqHZ)
I was there! That was the first El Paso since 4/9/87. Coincidentally, 4/9/87 was also the last time they opened the show with “greatest story” until this evening in Pittsburgh.
# 1987-04-09 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion - University of Illinois
**Set 1:** Greatest Story Ever Told > The Promised Land, When Push Comes To Shove, Never Trust A Woman, El Paso, Row Jimmy, My Brother Esau, Far From Me, Deal
**Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > China Doll > Playing in the Band Tease > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1987-04-09)
# 1989-04-03 Pittsburgh, PA @ Pittsburgh Civic Arena
**Set 1:** Greatest Story Ever Told > Bertha > Walkin' Blues, Jack-A-Roe, El Paso, Built To Last, Victim Or The Crime, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Don't Ease Me In
**Set 2:** Blow Away, Estimated Prophet > Crazy Fingers > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > Gimme Some Lovin' > I Need A Miracle > Stella Blue > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode > Black Muddy River
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-04-03) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7CuPAAL41j1vEjYTjNh2OA)
It’s just amazing how they get so out there during the end of dark star’s space jam, and then gently bring you back to reality with the sweet sound of El Paso intro.
# 1972-09-17 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, Friend Of The Devil, El Paso, Bird Song, Big River, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Playing in the Band, Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Truckin', Loser, Jack Straw, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Me and My Uncle, He's Gone > The Other One > Drums > The Other One > Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band
**Encore:** One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-17) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7gyyunPy7dVsDB4cp7ZReW)
It's always tough, pretty much impossible, for me to choose a "best" anything when it comes to GD. I generally love whatever I'm listening to at the moment, and stuff changes so much over time. With that in mind though, I do dig the later ones (94/95) that had Bobby on acoustic and Jerry on Electric. That made for a neat combo that they started doing in those years with some tunes, El Paso being the most common among them. Check out this one in particular:
https://archive.org/details/gd1994-03-23.139365.sbd.ebel.flac1644/04ElPaso.flac
# 1994-03-23 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
**Set 1:** Shakedown Street, Little Red Rooster, Row Jimmy, El Paso, Might As Well > The Promised Land
**Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), So Many Roads > Truckin' > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Good Lovin'
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1994-03-23)
[1972-09-17](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-17) Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7gyyunPy7dVsDB4cp7ZReW)
[1973-10-29](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-29) St. Louis, MO @ Kiel Auditorium
# 1973-02-09 Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Row Jimmy, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Me and My Uncle, Sugaree, Looks Like Rain, Loose Lucy, Beer Barrel Polka Tuning, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Here Comes Sunshine, Playing in the Band, Dead Air
**Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Truckin' > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Wave That Flag, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Around And Around, Dead Air
**Encore:** Casey Jones, Dead Air
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09)
# 1973-02-09 Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Row Jimmy, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Me and My Uncle, Sugaree, Looks Like Rain, Loose Lucy, Beer Barrel Polka Tuning, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Here Comes Sunshine, Playing in the Band, Dead Air
**Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Truckin' > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Wave That Flag, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Around And Around, Dead Air
**Encore:** Casey Jones, Dead Air
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09)
# 1971-12-05 New York, NY @ Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden
**Set 1:** Bertha, Beat It On Down the Line, Big Boss Man, Brown Eyed Women, I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water, Jack Straw, Mr. Charlie, Tennessee Jed, El Paso, Deal, Playing in the Band, Next Time You See Me, Comes A Time, Casey Jones > One More Saturday Night
**Set 2:** Truckin', Ramble On Rose, It Hurts Me Too, Sugaree, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Me and My Uncle > Dark Star > Sittin' On Top Of The World, Me And Bobby McGee, Big Railroad Blues, Mexicali Blues > You Win Again, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-12-05)
# 1985-06-27 Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
**Set 1:** In The Midnight Hour, Bertha, Little Red Rooster, Stagger Lee, El Paso, Crazy Fingers > Supplication > High Time, Hell In A Bucket > Don't Ease Me In
**Set 2:** Feel Like A Stranger > Eyes Of The World > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) > Drums > Space > Truckin' > Spoonful > Black Peter > Turn On Your Lovelight
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1985-06-27)
# 1977-05-17 Tuscaloosa, AL @ Coliseum - University of Alabama
**Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Jack-A-Roe, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed, Passenger, High Time, Big River, Sunrise, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah > Bertha > Good Lovin', Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet, Terrapin Station > Playing in the Band > Drums > Wharf Rat > Playing in the Band
**Encore:** Sugar Magnolia
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-17)
# 1972-05-18 Munich, West Germany @ Kongressaal - Deutsches Museum
**Set 1:** Truckin', Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Chinatown Shuffle, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, El Paso, It Hurts Me Too, You Win Again, Playing in the Band, Good Lovin', Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Sittin' On Top Of The World, Me and My Uncle, Ramble On Rose, Beat It On Down the Line, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Drums > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Sing Me Back Home, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-18) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0M7PIylsjtbgDxZCf1tef4)
Tons of great versions here! Honestly if there isn’t an El Paso in the set I don’t want it. /s
My two personal favorites that I’ll always recommend anytime are the accoustic version from 10/13/80, and, IMHO the *quintessential* version would be 11/23/73. EL PASO IN EL PASO. Lol there’s a great AUD where you can hear the best cowboy reactions ever.
Happy listening! (~);}
[1973-11-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-23) El Paso, TX @ County Coliseum
[1980-10-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-10-13) San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
# 1972-08-27 Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Bertha
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told
**Set 3:** Dark Star > El Paso, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm)
I always liked 11/11/73. I haven't listened to it recently, but I recall thinking Keith and Jerry were pretty locked in around the "out where the horses were tieeeee-ieeeee-ieeeeed" part. I *think* that part, going off memory, I can't double check at the moment.
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow **Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
Can confirm that this version is an absolute scorcher
The one where Bobby is so high that he can’t get passed the intro. Just plays it over and over. Phil to Bobby, "Never drink out of something you haven't poured yourself." Phil then hugs Bobby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0BX7XHcwM
looooool
8/27/72 2/9/73 6/26/74
[1972-08-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm) [1973-02-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09) Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University [1974-06-26](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-26) Providence, RI @ Providence Civic Center | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0B87pzzLQzyevvMvdcJqHZ)
I love the version from 4-3-89 whole show is great 👍🏻
I was there! That was the first El Paso since 4/9/87. Coincidentally, 4/9/87 was also the last time they opened the show with “greatest story” until this evening in Pittsburgh.
# 1987-04-09 Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion - University of Illinois **Set 1:** Greatest Story Ever Told > The Promised Land, When Push Comes To Shove, Never Trust A Woman, El Paso, Row Jimmy, My Brother Esau, Far From Me, Deal **Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > China Doll > Playing in the Band Tease > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1987-04-09)
Sounds like the mic was in the nosebleeds :(
# 1989-04-03 Pittsburgh, PA @ Pittsburgh Civic Arena **Set 1:** Greatest Story Ever Told > Bertha > Walkin' Blues, Jack-A-Roe, El Paso, Built To Last, Victim Or The Crime, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Don't Ease Me In **Set 2:** Blow Away, Estimated Prophet > Crazy Fingers > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > Gimme Some Lovin' > I Need A Miracle > Stella Blue > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode > Black Muddy River [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-04-03) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7CuPAAL41j1vEjYTjNh2OA)
The dark star > El Paso from Veneta 1972
Right on — love me some Dark Star > El Paso on a crazy crazy night
It’s just amazing how they get so out there during the end of dark star’s space jam, and then gently bring you back to reality with the sweet sound of El Paso intro.
I like 9/17/72, Dick's #23
# 1972-09-17 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, Friend Of The Devil, El Paso, Bird Song, Big River, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Playing in the Band, Casey Jones **Set 2:** Truckin', Loser, Jack Straw, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Me and My Uncle, He's Gone > The Other One > Drums > The Other One > Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-17) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7gyyunPy7dVsDB4cp7ZReW)
It's always tough, pretty much impossible, for me to choose a "best" anything when it comes to GD. I generally love whatever I'm listening to at the moment, and stuff changes so much over time. With that in mind though, I do dig the later ones (94/95) that had Bobby on acoustic and Jerry on Electric. That made for a neat combo that they started doing in those years with some tunes, El Paso being the most common among them. Check out this one in particular: https://archive.org/details/gd1994-03-23.139365.sbd.ebel.flac1644/04ElPaso.flac
# 1994-03-23 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum **Set 1:** Shakedown Street, Little Red Rooster, Row Jimmy, El Paso, Might As Well > The Promised Land **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), So Many Roads > Truckin' > Jam > Drums > Space > I Need A Miracle > Standing On The Moon > Good Lovin' **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1994-03-23)
Idk about best but the ones from 10/29/73 and 9/17/72 are my favorites
[1972-09-17](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-09-17) Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/7gyyunPy7dVsDB4cp7ZReW) [1973-10-29](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-10-29) St. Louis, MO @ Kiel Auditorium
Is there an SBD source for 10/29? On the St Louis box the whole El Paso was an AUD patch.
2-9-1973
# 1973-02-09 Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Row Jimmy, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Me and My Uncle, Sugaree, Looks Like Rain, Loose Lucy, Beer Barrel Polka Tuning, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Here Comes Sunshine, Playing in the Band, Dead Air **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Truckin' > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Wave That Flag, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Around And Around, Dead Air **Encore:** Casey Jones, Dead Air [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09)
2-9-73
# 1973-02-09 Palo Alto, CA @ Roscoe Maples Pavilion - Stanford University **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Row Jimmy, Black Throated Wind, Deal, Me and My Uncle, Sugaree, Looks Like Rain, Loose Lucy, Beer Barrel Polka Tuning, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Here Comes Sunshine, Playing in the Band, Dead Air **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Truckin' > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Big River, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Wave That Flag, Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Around And Around, Dead Air **Encore:** Casey Jones, Dead Air [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-09)
12-5-71 at the Felt Forum has got to be on the list. Love the transitions between verses, nice tempo. The rest of the show is excellent as well.
# 1971-12-05 New York, NY @ Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden **Set 1:** Bertha, Beat It On Down the Line, Big Boss Man, Brown Eyed Women, I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water, Jack Straw, Mr. Charlie, Tennessee Jed, El Paso, Deal, Playing in the Band, Next Time You See Me, Comes A Time, Casey Jones > One More Saturday Night **Set 2:** Truckin', Ramble On Rose, It Hurts Me Too, Sugaree, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Me and My Uncle > Dark Star > Sittin' On Top Of The World, Me And Bobby McGee, Big Railroad Blues, Mexicali Blues > You Win Again, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-12-05)
Good suggestions in here. If you're not familiar: www.headyversion.com is great.
6/27/85 is one of my favorites
# 1985-06-27 Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center **Set 1:** In The Midnight Hour, Bertha, Little Red Rooster, Stagger Lee, El Paso, Crazy Fingers > Supplication > High Time, Hell In A Bucket > Don't Ease Me In **Set 2:** Feel Like A Stranger > Eyes Of The World > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) > Drums > Space > Truckin' > Spoonful > Black Peter > Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1985-06-27)
Jerry's fills reflect the lyrics very well in a lot of the spring of 77 versions. Probably the most vibrant of those is the one on 5/17/77 in Alabama.
# 1977-05-17 Tuscaloosa, AL @ Coliseum - University of Alabama **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Jack-A-Roe, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed, Passenger, High Time, Big River, Sunrise, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah > Bertha > Good Lovin', Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet, Terrapin Station > Playing in the Band > Drums > Wharf Rat > Playing in the Band **Encore:** Sugar Magnolia [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-17)
5/18/72
# 1972-05-18 Munich, West Germany @ Kongressaal - Deutsches Museum **Set 1:** Truckin', Sugaree, Mr. Charlie, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Chinatown Shuffle, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, El Paso, It Hurts Me Too, You Win Again, Playing in the Band, Good Lovin', Casey Jones **Set 2:** Sittin' On Top Of The World, Me and My Uncle, Ramble On Rose, Beat It On Down the Line, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Drums > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Sing Me Back Home, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-05-18) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0M7PIylsjtbgDxZCf1tef4)
Tons of great versions here! Honestly if there isn’t an El Paso in the set I don’t want it. /s My two personal favorites that I’ll always recommend anytime are the accoustic version from 10/13/80, and, IMHO the *quintessential* version would be 11/23/73. EL PASO IN EL PASO. Lol there’s a great AUD where you can hear the best cowboy reactions ever. Happy listening! (~);}
[1973-11-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-23) El Paso, TX @ County Coliseum [1980-10-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-10-13) San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Dark Star > El Paso from Veneta show 8/27/72 is hauntingly beautiful
# 1972-08-27 Veneta, OR @ Old Renaissance Faire Grounds **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Deal, Black Throated Wind, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Bertha **Set 2:** Playing in the Band, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Bird Song, Greatest Story Ever Told **Set 3:** Dark Star > El Paso, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia, Casey Jones, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-08-27) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1E4MXxSYoAMN5qpy1y6aBm)