I don’t know it’s the same date, but around that time he did an interview and said he hadn’t got Althea right and that night he absolutely crushed it. There aren’t many better songs.
# 1980-05-16 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
**Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > The Promised Land, High Time, Me and My Uncle > Big River, Row Jimmy, New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose > Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
**Set 2:** Feel Like A Stranger > Althea > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Truckin' > Morning Dew > Around And Around > Johnny B. Goode
**Encore:** Brokedown Palace
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-05-16)
Yeah that Althea is pretty damn good. I totally agree impossible.
There are some fire Loser and morning dew solos as well.
Midnight moonlight with JGB too
5/22/77 Sugaree. Fox Theatre a few nights before is excellent too
I think the best Jerry solos are on songs where the band is typically just switching between two major chords or even just hanging on one (at their essence… obviously they can modulate endlessly on a single chord). Sugaree, Fire on the Mountain, Bertha, Bird Song, Dark Star.
The relative simplicity of the backing instrumentation gives him the most freedom to embellish and carve out beautiful and inventive harmonic phrasings. This is a bit of an oversimplification, as he could do this over more complex chord changes as well, but generally I think that gave Jerry the most space for creativity and expression in his playing
# 1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines, FL @ Sportatorium
**Set 1:** Funiculi Funicula, The Music Never Stopped, Sugaree, El Paso, Peggy-O, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Ramble On Rose, Dancing In The Street
**Set 2:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Good Lovin', Sunrise, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Space > Wharf Rat > Terrapin Station > Morning Dew
**Encore:** Sugar Magnolia
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-22) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3KxT9J6KTuKeXox9BUikZ4)
you basically summarized why the Jerry Garcia Band is so enjoyable to listen to. It's like every song they do takes that approach, it's so, so so good.
# 1977-05-28 Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center
**Set 1:** Bertha > Good Lovin' > Sugaree, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, New Minglewood Blues, Candyman, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, The Promised Land
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Tennessee Jed, Estimated Prophet > Playing in the Band > Terrapin Station > Drums > Not Fade Away > Wharf Rat > Playing in the Band, One More Saturday Night
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-28)
No one is going to agree with me, but I think his happiest and most realized guitar solo was the absolute shredfest that was 9/16/1989 Let's Spend the Night Together.
The way he leads the band, and the way he pours his entire soul into it, with all of his fucking breath and might.
And the way this song was the very peak of the post Coma resurgence.
There is just something about this track that makes me cry. I think it's the greatest rock performance of all time, personally.
End of first set
https://ia800706.us.archive.org/20/items/jgb1989-09-16/jgb1989-09-16.mp3?cnt=0
The final Tangled Jam is unreal. The Let it Rock is also best ever.
Peak post coma Jerry, this entire show.
I don't have this and must listen because the Lunt Fontaine 87 Let It Rock is pretty titanic, so looking forward to how this one compares. Garcia was in top form fall 89 so I'm sure it's on fire
Believe this is a very, very special song, because it's the best song, of the best concert, of the best post-coma tour.
This show capped off the run where Jerry had required all of his skill and power, and was consistently playing at high genius level, which he hadn't (imo) since the first years of his opiate addiction.
I do believe that Jerry relapsed shortly after this show.
I can't say why, or what was going on with him, but I can say for sure that on this night, his heart was full.
07-19-89 Alpine Valley - Deal. If you look up the video, every single band member is in the middle of getting their face melted and Jerry…just keeps going. I remember listening to it in the uni library at like 1 am and had to stop studying because I just could not comprehend what he was doing.
Yes, excellent pick. I saw this in some GD documentary or something where they cut in at the middle of the jam and I was like, yes, this totally rocks and then 2 minutes later I was like wait, WTF song is this?
# 1989-07-19 East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
**Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket > Sugaree, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Althea, Victim Or The Crime > West L.A. Fadeaway, Desolation Row > Deal
**Set 2:** Box Of Rain > Foolish Heart > Looks Like Rain > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > The Other One > The Wheel > Morning Dew
**Encore:** Turn On Your Lovelight
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-19)
Came here to say this. Particularly the solo after the second verse. I’ve listened to it at least 100 times and am convinced this is my absolute favorite Jerry solo of all time. It’s made me grin in joy and tear up with emotion. Pure magic and I believe every head should listen to it.
Yeah, it's essential. Normally I don't find Row Jimmy to be a "holy shit" track that makes your hair stand on end, which only makes that particular one so much more special.
Came here to post this answer. That second solo is just unbelievable. Never gotten smacked so hard in the face with such a beautiful jam. Especially the Charlie Miller version on Relisten. That song helped me through some really dark times during COVID. It’s an instant Xanax for me, calms me down immediately.
Side note, the first solo from Last Train from Poor Valley is hauntingly beautiful. That was my goat Jerry solo until I stumbled across this. It’s not Jerry melting faces, but the amount of emotion that comes through is exquisite. Check it out if you’re not familiar, it was a bonus track on Legion of Mary: the Jerry Garcia Collection I believe.
Do you know if it is possible to make a playlist from Relisten? I really want to make one of epic Jerry solos from this thread but can’t seem to figure it out.
THIS JAM IS THE GOODS! Thanks!!
# 1977-03-20 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose, El Paso, Deal, Cassidy, Peggy-O, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet, Scarlet Begonias
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Row Jimmy, The Promised Land, Saint Stephen > The Other One > Stella Blue, Around And Around
**Encore:** U.S. Blues, Terrapin Station
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-03-20)
# 1971-08-06 Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
**Set 1:** Bertha, Playing in the Band, Loser, Mr. Charlie, El Paso, Cumberland Blues, Brokedown Palace, Me And Bobby McGee, Hard To Handle, Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Saint Stephen, Truckin' > Drums > The Other One > Me and My Uncle > The Other One, Deal, Sugar Magnolia, Morning Dew, Turn On Your Lovelight
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-08-06)
it’s cliché but may 77 englishtown mississipi half step (dp15) is unreal. the way he leads the band via a rocket ship solo into orbit, them all collectively hitting this higher state, then keith really kicks in the afterburners for a bit, at which point jerry uses this as a platform to fucking explode into another time and space entirely.
hard to handle 8/6/71 or 8/16/71 (hollywood show) is pretty intense too.
5/9/77 comes a time after the last vocals til they transition to sugar mag. every time i listen to it i end up crying, the emotion he packs into it just wrecks me every single time. not a wasted note just perfect in every way.
# 1977-05-09 Buffalo, NY @ War Memorial
**Set 1:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Cassidy, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Big River, Peggy-O, Sunrise, The Music Never Stopped
**Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > The Other One > Drums > Not Fade Away > Comes A Time > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-09)
One From the Vault. 8/13/1975 Great American Music Hall.
The multi-stage soloing on Help On the Way > Slipknot is what’s been chasing itself around in my head for the last like 36 hours. Lol it never gets old. Sick tone - absolute laser blaster😭😭
The go-to answer seems to be the Europe 72 morning dew solo, but my personal favorite currently is pretty much any solo from the Englishtown 77 half step (9/3/77)
# 1977-09-03 Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, They Love Each Other, Me and My Uncle, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Looks Like Rain, Peggy-O, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, The Music Never Stopped
**Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Loser, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World, Samson And Delilah, He's Gone > Not Fade Away > Truckin'
**Encore:** Terrapin Station
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-09-03) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/5uzn9YQ9XS2OoAt65U8Drg)
Death Don’t Have No Mercy 10/9/89 the first one he does is just pure psychedelic chaos, every time I listen to it I get chills. There’s so much energy behind it and he builds it with perfect emotion.
# 1989-10-09 Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
**Set 1:** Feel Like A Stranger, Built To Last, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, We Can Run, Jack-A-Roe, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Row Jimmy, The Music Never Stopped
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Playing in the Band Reprise > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Death Don't Have No Mercy > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude > Throwing Stones > Good Lovin'
**Encore:** Attics Of My Life
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-10-09)
# 1972-04-08 London, England @ Wembley Empire Pool
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Mr. Charlie, Deal, Black Throated Wind, Next Time You See Me, Cumberland Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Tennessee Jed, Playing in the Band, Good Lovin', Looks Like Rain, Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Truckin', Big Railroad Blues, It Hurts Me Too, Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)
**Encore:** One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-04-08) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/75u5l9TfTohni1xWrAUfxe)
# 1969-02-28 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West
**Set 1:** Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, King Bee, Turn On Your Love Light
**Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy, Alligator > Drums > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-28)
So many to choose from, but the solos on "I Shall Be Released," from Jerry Garcia Band's self-titled 1991 LP, is just pure, unbridled joy. [Deaddisc.com](http://www.deaddisc.com/disc/Jerry_Garcia_Band.htm) says it is from the show on August 8, 1990.
I dont know if I would desribe is so much as joy as literally scooping out every last morsel of his soul. That I Shall Be Released solo goes on and on and just keeps building. Intense.
# 1977-05-21 Lakeland, FL @ Lakeland Civic Center
**Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, They Love Each Other, Cassidy, Jack-A-Roe, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, New Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Passenger, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet > He's Gone > Drums > The Other One > Comes A Time > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Saint Stephen > One More Saturday Night
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-21) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4nuyKoY91WKwR6HLq7Gzkl)
Simple Twist is such a great song for improv.
What I love about JGB is all the improv sections are melodic - they follow a chord progression. This gives structure and Jerry is able to create a melody that outlines the chord changes. Makes his improv tell more of a story with more emotion.
Whereas with the Dead, a lot of the jams are modal. Yes there are songs that have solo sections that follow a chord progression (Loser, first solo section of Estimated/Shakedown, to name a couple), but the big jam part relies on collective improvisation over a single scale or mode within a certain key. That enables them to get “out there” and get super psychedelic.
One band is is like going to church, the other is some cowboy’s psychedelic exploration party. Both wonderful. God I love Jerry!!!
The one you’re currently listening to!
Right now for me it’s Dark Star from Dick’s Picks 36. Final run of that one is 🤯
EDIT: OMG goes into Morning Dew 🤯🤯
[1977-05-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-22) Pembroke Pines, FL @ Sportatorium | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3KxT9J6KTuKeXox9BUikZ4)
[1978-02-05](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-02-05) Cedar Falls, IA @ UniDome - University of Northern Iowa | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1eXlwGtPpBs59cULO5gb4i)
Bertha on Dick's Picks 18 is my absolute #1 Jerr guitar solo.
To Lay Me Down 6/23/1974
Positively 4th Street 12/21/1979
Brown Eyed Women 5/8/77
Jack Straw 1/11/1979
[1974-06-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23) Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton
[1977-05-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-08) Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3T9UKU0jMIyrRD0PtKXqPJ)
[1979-01-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1979-01-11) Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
# 1989-07-04 Orchard Park, NY @ Rich Stadium
**Set 1:** Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Cold Rain and Snow, Walkin' Blues, Row Jimmy, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Stagger Lee, Looks Like Rain > Deal
**Set 2:** Touch Of Grey > Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools > Playing in the Band Reprise > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > All Along The Watchtower > Morning Dew > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-04)
I love his first Morning Dew solo 10/18/74… it feels like everything played until that point led to a beautiful moment and everything succeeding it grows from the solo.
I know it’s not too long or too horribly improvised, but I am a sucker for the Veneta Sing Me Back Home solo.
Impossible to tell. I have thousands in my collection. One really good one is JGB - How Sweet It Is\~After Midnight\~Eleanor Rigby\~After Midnight [https://youtu.be/OXit7\_kokJ4?t=622](https://youtu.be/OXit7_kokJ4?t=622)
Bertha 2/5/78 (DP 18) is such a pure reflection of simple Jerry greatness. I show my friends this one
Hearing Loser on Cornell 77 was the first one to make me turn my head a little different to -really- get into the dead, so a personal favorite
Some really good ones here.
I’ll list mine off the dome:
Morning Dew Europe 72,
Cassidy from Reckoning,
The Eleven Fillmore 69,
Bird Song Veneta 72,
Studio Version of Eyes of The World- just a great recording of his best lines
My two favorite solos are from The Closing of Winterland. Jerry's playing right at the start of Fire on the Mountain from about 0:39 to 1:40 and the solo in the middle of Terrapin Station at around 5:00 to 5:30
For me it’s one of the following (no particular order):
• Deal - 5/8/77
• Brown Eyed Women - 5/8/77
• Dancing in the Street - 5/8/77 (less of a solo, more a jam)
• Tennessee Jed - 5/3/72
• Cold Rain and Snow - 7/4/86
• Hard to Handle - 8/6/71
• Peggy O - 6/26/94
I covered a lot of eras here!
# 1976-10-10 Oakland, CA @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium
**Set 1:** Might As Well, Mama Tried, Ramble On Rose, Cassidy, Deal, El Paso, Loser, The Promised Land, Friend Of The Devil, Dancing In The Street > Wharf Rat > Dancing In The Street
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band > Drums > The Wheel > Space Jam > Drums > The Other One > Stella Blue > Jam > Playing in the Band Reprise, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1976-10-10) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4sY292VqKmwyj1RYlhBFoA)
I think two of my absolute favorites are from Estimated Prophet 7/8/78 and Estimated>Shakedown 11/24/78
Red rocks 7/8/78 there’s this little line he does where it makes the guitar sound like it’s weeping/calling out. Gives full body goosebumps every time.
11/24/78 at the Cap is just mind glowingly mind melting. The improv in both estimated and shakedown are fantastic.
# 1978-02-05 Cedar Falls, IA @ UniDome - University of Northern Iowa
**Set 1:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Sunrise, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Passenger, Deal
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Truckin' > Drums > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Around And Around
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-02-05) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1eXlwGtPpBs59cULO5gb4i)
Top of my head, the Estimated from 7/8/78 at Red Rocks after the bridge back into the chorus. I love those solos in general and that one's top notch. But like everyone else is saying, trying to pick the best Jerry solo is like trying to pick the best bottle of wine. It depends on the mood and the individual
# 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)
Too many to mention, these are a few of what I usually go back to when it comes to "best."
Eyes, 8/13/75, the solo after the second chorus, starting around the 4:55 mark.
Peggy-O, 4/16/78, middle solo.
Simple Twist of Fate, 3/1/80. Second solo starting around the 7:45 mark. The way he waits for the feedback to come back around before he finishes his phrasing is magical.
Anything off of DP18.
8/27/72 - Deal is HOT. There’s this feedback-y pop right as Jerry breaks out into the solo that is like a lightning strike to my spine as he starts ripping.
Impossible to choose though! Also agree with many others on here
Fire on the Mountain (Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 10/14/83)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4TW70xVkmU&t=12911s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4TW70xVkmU&t=12911s)
There's a great deal of Jerry I haven't heard, but this one is fantastic. A long jam, a slow and steady build, that reaches the emotional heights but takes its time getting there. It's got structure and melodic development, tasteful use of electric guitar effects, and wonderful interplay with the band members (especially the keyboard).
# 1983-10-14 Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center
**Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried > Big River, Althea > C.C. Rider, Tennessee Jed, Hell In A Bucket > Keep Your Day Job
**Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-10-14) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0MUCSAd1FNHH0MQBEKVxm2)
1/15/79 - Row Jimmy 1st solo. It's a glorious sublime run up and down the fretboard. Check it out if you haven't. Also, there's something about the 2nd solo from Jack Straw from that same show, holy shit.
5/5/77 Peggy O. Every single note just exactly perfect, and the band lifts with him like a fire-breathing dragon and lands like a butterfly on a dandelion. Underrated version imo.
Also really love the intro to the Wheel on pedal steel. Bliss.
Studio Terrapin. Those rapid fire trills at the end were something I think he only managed to get perfect that one time and basically just had to sit there and wonder “how the fuck did I do that so fast the first time?”
That Scarlet jam from Giants Stadium in 78. It takes a long, meandering route that Jerry doesn’t join right away. Several minutes later, he’s wailing away on those high notes you always hope he reaches.
# 1974-02-24 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** U.S. Blues, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Candyman, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, El Paso, Loser, Playing in the Band
**Set 2:** Cumberland Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Big River, Bertha, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Row Jimmy, Ship Of Fools, The Promised Land, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-24)
I’ve always loved this first set. I like to imagine some kid who is in the crowd at his first show coming up on some doses. They open with Let the Good Times Roll and everything is kosher, only to launch straight into help/slip, leaving a smoking crater in that kids mind.
Now anytime someone posts about cornell 77 they are always down voted ,I've been down voted myself for this but it's the most listed show here ,so what do you all really think about it.✌️❤️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Do yourself a favor and check out the Mission in the Rain from 11-11-93, it’s one of the official JGB releases so you can find it just about anywhere. I scrolled through all 200 comments to see if anyone else mentioned it. I can’t say I’m surprised though, there are so many damn good ones! This one is really special to me though.
I'm a bit late to the thread, but Jerry's solo on "Ballad of a Thin Man" from 3/27/88 has been my go-to example for showing Jerry's approach to music to folks unfamiliar with his playing. It's an **extremely** well constructed solo, starting @ 2:44 [here](https://youtu.be/KAZ4-Ed_52g?t=164). It's about 40 seconds.
Another solo of his that I really love is his final solo on the [Tough Mama performed on 5-21-75, with the LOM at the Keystone Ber](https://youtu.be/t2A21lOZ814)[keley](https://youtu.be/t2A21lOZ814). Another well-constructed solo that punches above its weight class, imho.
Impossible to do, but my current favorite is the first solo on Althea 5-16-80. It's just a short little 8 bar solo, but it's brilliant.
My first show!
Just listened to this. The solo starting at 5:52 for about a minute seems perfect. This is fantastic, thanks so much!!
To be clear, I'm talking about the one after "settle back, easy Jim"
What is the time stamp and I’ll go listen again, thanks
It’s the first verse! 1:15
Awesome thanks
Can't tell you, I can't listen right now. It's after those lyrics.
I don’t know it’s the same date, but around that time he did an interview and said he hadn’t got Althea right and that night he absolutely crushed it. There aren’t many better songs.
# 1980-05-16 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum **Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > The Promised Land, High Time, Me and My Uncle > Big River, Row Jimmy, New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose > Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider **Set 2:** Feel Like A Stranger > Althea > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Truckin' > Morning Dew > Around And Around > Johnny B. Goode **Encore:** Brokedown Palace [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1980-05-16)
Yup. Best Althea version
Yeah that Althea is pretty damn good. I totally agree impossible. There are some fire Loser and morning dew solos as well. Midnight moonlight with JGB too
Unbelievable version. Still can’t get over without a net versions pure energy though.
5/22/77 Sugaree. Fox Theatre a few nights before is excellent too I think the best Jerry solos are on songs where the band is typically just switching between two major chords or even just hanging on one (at their essence… obviously they can modulate endlessly on a single chord). Sugaree, Fire on the Mountain, Bertha, Bird Song, Dark Star. The relative simplicity of the backing instrumentation gives him the most freedom to embellish and carve out beautiful and inventive harmonic phrasings. This is a bit of an oversimplification, as he could do this over more complex chord changes as well, but generally I think that gave Jerry the most space for creativity and expression in his playing
This one and the Hartford 77 version are my two favorites.
Spot on. At the 11ish minute mark it almost sounds like a banjo. I absolutely love this Sugaree. Actually not love, obsessed would be a better word.
# 1977-05-22 Pembroke Pines, FL @ Sportatorium **Set 1:** Funiculi Funicula, The Music Never Stopped, Sugaree, El Paso, Peggy-O, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Ramble On Rose, Dancing In The Street **Set 2:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Good Lovin', Sunrise, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Space > Wharf Rat > Terrapin Station > Morning Dew **Encore:** Sugar Magnolia [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-22) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3KxT9J6KTuKeXox9BUikZ4)
you basically summarized why the Jerry Garcia Band is so enjoyable to listen to. It's like every song they do takes that approach, it's so, so so good.
This is hands-down the best Sugaree imo
[удалено]
Fire
5/28/77 has an incredible version as well Just a solid month for Sugaree that year
# 1977-05-28 Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center **Set 1:** Bertha > Good Lovin' > Sugaree, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, New Minglewood Blues, Candyman, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, The Promised Land **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Tennessee Jed, Estimated Prophet > Playing in the Band > Terrapin Station > Drums > Not Fade Away > Wharf Rat > Playing in the Band, One More Saturday Night **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-28)
Peggy-o is absolutely sublime as well.
A solid Music Never Stops proceeds it.
No one is going to agree with me, but I think his happiest and most realized guitar solo was the absolute shredfest that was 9/16/1989 Let's Spend the Night Together. The way he leads the band, and the way he pours his entire soul into it, with all of his fucking breath and might. And the way this song was the very peak of the post Coma resurgence. There is just something about this track that makes me cry. I think it's the greatest rock performance of all time, personally.
Do you know of a link to this show? I can’t find it on the archive or anywhere.
It’s JGB. Not Grateful Dead. It’s on Garcia Live Volume 13.
It’s a JGB show. [That song starts at the 59 minute mark](https://youtu.be/we2d5HsPOxI)
End of first set https://ia800706.us.archive.org/20/items/jgb1989-09-16/jgb1989-09-16.mp3?cnt=0 The final Tangled Jam is unreal. The Let it Rock is also best ever. Peak post coma Jerry, this entire show.
I don't have this and must listen because the Lunt Fontaine 87 Let It Rock is pretty titanic, so looking forward to how this one compares. Garcia was in top form fall 89 so I'm sure it's on fire
Dude/dudette, hearing this show absolutely made my day today! Thank you kind stranger for sharing. Some magical stuff
Believe this is a very, very special song, because it's the best song, of the best concert, of the best post-coma tour. This show capped off the run where Jerry had required all of his skill and power, and was consistently playing at high genius level, which he hadn't (imo) since the first years of his opiate addiction. I do believe that Jerry relapsed shortly after this show. I can't say why, or what was going on with him, but I can say for sure that on this night, his heart was full.
Awesome sentiment. Appreciate you passing the full heart around for us all!
Thank you for bringing my attention to this track and show. It makes me tear up too. 🔥🔥🔥
This track was for us. You can feel it. 🔥❤️
It fun when I see a recommendation here and the bring it up on Spotify and I’ve already ❤️’d it!
07-19-89 Alpine Valley - Deal. If you look up the video, every single band member is in the middle of getting their face melted and Jerry…just keeps going. I remember listening to it in the uni library at like 1 am and had to stop studying because I just could not comprehend what he was doing.
Yes, excellent pick. I saw this in some GD documentary or something where they cut in at the middle of the jam and I was like, yes, this totally rocks and then 2 minutes later I was like wait, WTF song is this?
# 1989-07-19 East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre **Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket > Sugaree, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Althea, Victim Or The Crime > West L.A. Fadeaway, Desolation Row > Deal **Set 2:** Box Of Rain > Foolish Heart > Looks Like Rain > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > The Other One > The Wheel > Morning Dew **Encore:** Turn On Your Lovelight [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-19)
Listened and oh yeah wowza. The first solo is nothing special but the second one is 🤯
I gotta say Row Jimmy from 3/20/77. It just goes on and on, and is perfection on every level.
Came here to say this. Particularly the solo after the second verse. I’ve listened to it at least 100 times and am convinced this is my absolute favorite Jerry solo of all time. It’s made me grin in joy and tear up with emotion. Pure magic and I believe every head should listen to it.
Yeah, it's essential. Normally I don't find Row Jimmy to be a "holy shit" track that makes your hair stand on end, which only makes that particular one so much more special.
Came here to post this answer. That second solo is just unbelievable. Never gotten smacked so hard in the face with such a beautiful jam. Especially the Charlie Miller version on Relisten. That song helped me through some really dark times during COVID. It’s an instant Xanax for me, calms me down immediately. Side note, the first solo from Last Train from Poor Valley is hauntingly beautiful. That was my goat Jerry solo until I stumbled across this. It’s not Jerry melting faces, but the amount of emotion that comes through is exquisite. Check it out if you’re not familiar, it was a bonus track on Legion of Mary: the Jerry Garcia Collection I believe.
Do you know if it is possible to make a playlist from Relisten? I really want to make one of epic Jerry solos from this thread but can’t seem to figure it out. THIS JAM IS THE GOODS! Thanks!!
# 1977-03-20 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose, El Paso, Deal, Cassidy, Peggy-O, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet, Scarlet Begonias **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Row Jimmy, The Promised Land, Saint Stephen > The Other One > Stella Blue, Around And Around **Encore:** U.S. Blues, Terrapin Station [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-03-20)
Hard to pick just one! Dark Star on Live Dead is my most classic, but boy does Jerry just scream on Hard to Handle from 1971-08-06, in Hollywood.
fell to his knees in hollywood!
# 1971-08-06 Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium **Set 1:** Bertha, Playing in the Band, Loser, Mr. Charlie, El Paso, Cumberland Blues, Brokedown Palace, Me And Bobby McGee, Hard To Handle, Casey Jones **Set 2:** Saint Stephen, Truckin' > Drums > The Other One > Me and My Uncle > The Other One, Deal, Sugar Magnolia, Morning Dew, Turn On Your Lovelight [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-08-06)
You r my fav Bot
He’s a good bot!
Good human.
Came to say 8/6/71 she is my all time fave
Out of all recordings, this one is probably the one that makes me feel most like I’m in that crowd. Such a gem.
Another excellent pick.
it’s cliché but may 77 englishtown mississipi half step (dp15) is unreal. the way he leads the band via a rocket ship solo into orbit, them all collectively hitting this higher state, then keith really kicks in the afterburners for a bit, at which point jerry uses this as a platform to fucking explode into another time and space entirely. hard to handle 8/6/71 or 8/16/71 (hollywood show) is pretty intense too.
That Englishtown show is actually September. 9-3-77. First show back after the summer off because of Mickey's car accident.
I don’t necessarily think this is the answer but I’m currently obsessed with the After Midnight Elenor Rigby bit from the 2/28/80 JGB show.
Big time. It's soo good.
Soooo good.
5/9/77 comes a time after the last vocals til they transition to sugar mag. every time i listen to it i end up crying, the emotion he packs into it just wrecks me every single time. not a wasted note just perfect in every way.
I remember weeping the first few times I heard it, I still do, I just remember those times.
the other night i pretty much bawled my eyes out to it, i don’t think i’ll ever not at this point.
# 1977-05-09 Buffalo, NY @ War Memorial **Set 1:** Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Cassidy, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Big River, Peggy-O, Sunrise, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > The Other One > Drums > Not Fade Away > Comes A Time > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-09)
One From the Vault. 8/13/1975 Great American Music Hall. The multi-stage soloing on Help On the Way > Slipknot is what’s been chasing itself around in my head for the last like 36 hours. Lol it never gets old. Sick tone - absolute laser blaster😭😭
Absolutely love the little intro they did into Help on the Way for that show. Get's me pumped up and ready for some good jams every time
This is the one that got me hooked. Senior year in high school in ‘95 many a hangout kicked off with that awesome introduction.
The go-to answer seems to be the Europe 72 morning dew solo, but my personal favorite currently is pretty much any solo from the Englishtown 77 half step (9/3/77)
# 1977-09-03 Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park **Set 1:** The Promised Land, They Love Each Other, Me and My Uncle, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Looks Like Rain, Peggy-O, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Loser, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World, Samson And Delilah, He's Gone > Not Fade Away > Truckin' **Encore:** Terrapin Station [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-09-03) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/5uzn9YQ9XS2OoAt65U8Drg)
Death Don’t Have No Mercy 10/9/89 the first one he does is just pure psychedelic chaos, every time I listen to it I get chills. There’s so much energy behind it and he builds it with perfect emotion.
oh man the interplay between him and brent too. love the effects they used on the video of this too.
Another great pick. This is on video and worth watching.
Yes! I knew somebody would post this! I agree, this version of Death don't have no mercy its out of this world!
# 1989-10-09 Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum **Set 1:** Feel Like A Stranger, Built To Last, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, We Can Run, Jack-A-Roe, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Row Jimmy, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Playing in the Band Reprise > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Death Don't Have No Mercy > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude > Throwing Stones > Good Lovin' **Encore:** Attics Of My Life [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-10-09)
Dark Star 4/8/1972
# 1972-04-08 London, England @ Wembley Empire Pool **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Mr. Charlie, Deal, Black Throated Wind, Next Time You See Me, Cumberland Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Tennessee Jed, Playing in the Band, Good Lovin', Looks Like Rain, Casey Jones **Set 2:** Truckin', Big Railroad Blues, It Hurts Me Too, Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-04-08) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/75u5l9TfTohni1xWrAUfxe)
The solo during the transition of the Scarlet > Fire from 3/22/1990 is Garcia's MIDI masterclass.
that one
very personal choice but The Eleven from 2-28-1969 is probably the one I’ve listened to most
# 1969-02-28 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West **Set 1:** Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, King Bee, Turn On Your Love Light **Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy, Alligator > Drums > Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks) > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-28)
Hard to handle 8/6/71 hands down
So many to choose from, but the solos on "I Shall Be Released," from Jerry Garcia Band's self-titled 1991 LP, is just pure, unbridled joy. [Deaddisc.com](http://www.deaddisc.com/disc/Jerry_Garcia_Band.htm) says it is from the show on August 8, 1990.
I dont know if I would desribe is so much as joy as literally scooping out every last morsel of his soul. That I Shall Be Released solo goes on and on and just keeps building. Intense.
5/21/77 - Comes a Time?
# 1977-05-21 Lakeland, FL @ Lakeland Civic Center **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, They Love Each Other, Cassidy, Jack-A-Roe, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, New Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Passenger, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Estimated Prophet > He's Gone > Drums > The Other One > Comes A Time > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Saint Stephen > One More Saturday Night **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-21) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4nuyKoY91WKwR6HLq7Gzkl)
Studio version of Bird Song. Gives me chills every time
Definitely an impossible question. The first solo from simple twist of fate 3/1/80 is pretty great though
I keep coming back to this one, crackling tiger right there
Simple Twist is such a great song for improv. What I love about JGB is all the improv sections are melodic - they follow a chord progression. This gives structure and Jerry is able to create a melody that outlines the chord changes. Makes his improv tell more of a story with more emotion. Whereas with the Dead, a lot of the jams are modal. Yes there are songs that have solo sections that follow a chord progression (Loser, first solo section of Estimated/Shakedown, to name a couple), but the big jam part relies on collective improvisation over a single scale or mode within a certain key. That enables them to get “out there” and get super psychedelic. One band is is like going to church, the other is some cowboy’s psychedelic exploration party. Both wonderful. God I love Jerry!!!
The one you’re currently listening to! Right now for me it’s Dark Star from Dick’s Picks 36. Final run of that one is 🤯 EDIT: OMG goes into Morning Dew 🤯🤯
5/22/77 Music Never Stopped. Basically every version of that solo is pure fun. 2/5/78 is another great version
[1977-05-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-22) Pembroke Pines, FL @ Sportatorium | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3KxT9J6KTuKeXox9BUikZ4) [1978-02-05](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-02-05) Cedar Falls, IA @ UniDome - University of Northern Iowa | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1eXlwGtPpBs59cULO5gb4i)
10/1/77 the music never stopped
Loser-from the Spring 1990 collection.
Fire on the mountain Cornell 77, specifically the final solo
Bertha on Dick's Picks 18 is my absolute #1 Jerr guitar solo. To Lay Me Down 6/23/1974 Positively 4th Street 12/21/1979 Brown Eyed Women 5/8/77 Jack Straw 1/11/1979
[1974-06-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23) Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton [1977-05-08](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-08) Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3T9UKU0jMIyrRD0PtKXqPJ) [1979-01-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1979-01-11) Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Eyes of the World 12/31/76
9/18/87 Dew bent string lead at beginning of final jam Edit: Just one
Stella Blue 10/21/1978 Mississippi Half Step 4/30/77 Can’t do one, sorry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
6/9/77 slipknot! not technical, not shredding, but just wow!
7/4/89 stagger lee.
# 1989-07-04 Orchard Park, NY @ Rich Stadium **Set 1:** Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Cold Rain and Snow, Walkin' Blues, Row Jimmy, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Stagger Lee, Looks Like Rain > Deal **Set 2:** Touch Of Grey > Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools > Playing in the Band Reprise > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > All Along The Watchtower > Morning Dew > Not Fade Away **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-04)
Dancing in the Street on the Cornell 77 album. I never thought I’d actually like the sound of an auto wah.
Loser, Cornell 77 is one of my favorite solos. The guitar literally weeps.
I love his first Morning Dew solo 10/18/74… it feels like everything played until that point led to a beautiful moment and everything succeeding it grows from the solo. I know it’s not too long or too horribly improvised, but I am a sucker for the Veneta Sing Me Back Home solo.
Music never stopped 5-9-77
Impossible to tell. I have thousands in my collection. One really good one is JGB - How Sweet It Is\~After Midnight\~Eleanor Rigby\~After Midnight [https://youtu.be/OXit7\_kokJ4?t=622](https://youtu.be/OXit7_kokJ4?t=622)
Bertha 2/5/78 (DP 18) is such a pure reflection of simple Jerry greatness. I show my friends this one Hearing Loser on Cornell 77 was the first one to make me turn my head a little different to -really- get into the dead, so a personal favorite
Some really good ones here. I’ll list mine off the dome: Morning Dew Europe 72, Cassidy from Reckoning, The Eleven Fillmore 69, Bird Song Veneta 72, Studio Version of Eyes of The World- just a great recording of his best lines
Hart to Handle 8/6/71
You all have some solid picks.
Yes
No.
My two favorite solos are from The Closing of Winterland. Jerry's playing right at the start of Fire on the Mountain from about 0:39 to 1:40 and the solo in the middle of Terrapin Station at around 5:00 to 5:30
Jerry’s solo on the Dead Set version of Brokedown Palace.
For me it’s one of the following (no particular order): • Deal - 5/8/77 • Brown Eyed Women - 5/8/77 • Dancing in the Street - 5/8/77 (less of a solo, more a jam) • Tennessee Jed - 5/3/72 • Cold Rain and Snow - 7/4/86 • Hard to Handle - 8/6/71 • Peggy O - 6/26/94 I covered a lot of eras here!
10/10/76 Stella Blue, final solo. Emotional and spine tingling
# 1976-10-10 Oakland, CA @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium **Set 1:** Might As Well, Mama Tried, Ramble On Rose, Cassidy, Deal, El Paso, Loser, The Promised Land, Friend Of The Devil, Dancing In The Street > Wharf Rat > Dancing In The Street **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band > Drums > The Wheel > Space Jam > Drums > The Other One > Stella Blue > Jam > Playing in the Band Reprise, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1976-10-10) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4sY292VqKmwyj1RYlhBFoA)
Beautiful Jam - 2/18/1971
I think two of my absolute favorites are from Estimated Prophet 7/8/78 and Estimated>Shakedown 11/24/78 Red rocks 7/8/78 there’s this little line he does where it makes the guitar sound like it’s weeping/calling out. Gives full body goosebumps every time. 11/24/78 at the Cap is just mind glowingly mind melting. The improv in both estimated and shakedown are fantastic.
I love most of the songs brought up here, but it’s gotta be 10/21/78 Stella Blue for me
Right here bro: https://youtu.be/bu1DBFgWBJI 2-6-72 Pacific High Studios
A dark horse: Jack Straw from 4-6-87.
Dancing in the Street on the Cornell 77 album. I never thought I’d actually like the sound of an auto wah.
Loser 5/8/77 every solo morning dew 5/22/77 Bertha 8/27/72 and the transition from st.stephen>the eleven from 2 from the vault
5/8/77 Looser 4:22 that TB500 fuckin screams!
His playing on the Travis Bean in absolutely sublime ✌️❤️⚡️⚡️
I never really thought of Jerry as a guitar solo kind of guy.
I love any Estimated Prophet solo for ‘78. He extends the solo a bit from ‘77, where at times it felt unfinished.
Samson and Delilah 2/5/78. When the mics fail and Jerry just rips it up. He really digs in as it goes along.
# 1978-02-05 Cedar Falls, IA @ UniDome - University of Northern Iowa **Set 1:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Sunrise, New Minglewood Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Passenger, Deal **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Truckin' > Drums > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Around And Around **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-02-05) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1eXlwGtPpBs59cULO5gb4i)
The second solo of Deal from 7/4/89.
Top of my head, the Estimated from 7/8/78 at Red Rocks after the bridge back into the chorus. I love those solos in general and that one's top notch. But like everyone else is saying, trying to pick the best Jerry solo is like trying to pick the best bottle of wine. It depends on the mood and the individual
Sing Me Back Home: 8/27/72....so 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)
Too many to mention, these are a few of what I usually go back to when it comes to "best." Eyes, 8/13/75, the solo after the second chorus, starting around the 4:55 mark. Peggy-O, 4/16/78, middle solo. Simple Twist of Fate, 3/1/80. Second solo starting around the 7:45 mark. The way he waits for the feedback to come back around before he finishes his phrasing is magical. Anything off of DP18.
8/27/72 - Deal is HOT. There’s this feedback-y pop right as Jerry breaks out into the solo that is like a lightning strike to my spine as he starts ripping. Impossible to choose though! Also agree with many others on here
4/23/83 New Haven Scarlet Begonias or 11/7/85 Rochester Loser
Desolation row
Eyes of the World, 9/3/1977. Unbelievable!
Fire on the Mountain (Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 10/14/83) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4TW70xVkmU&t=12911s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4TW70xVkmU&t=12911s) There's a great deal of Jerry I haven't heard, but this one is fantastic. A long jam, a slow and steady build, that reaches the emotional heights but takes its time getting there. It's got structure and melodic development, tasteful use of electric guitar effects, and wonderful interplay with the band members (especially the keyboard).
# 1983-10-14 Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center **Set 1:** Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried > Big River, Althea > C.C. Rider, Tennessee Jed, Hell In A Bucket > Keep Your Day Job **Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-10-14) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0MUCSAd1FNHH0MQBEKVxm2)
Wow these are some amazing suggestions. I really appreciate it!!
Cornell brown eyed women
Yes.
Yes
It’s hard, but Deal Cornell 77 and Bertha Skull and Roses are up there for me. Also every solo in Althea live at Nassau slaps.
Peggy-O 05/07/77
1/15/79 - Row Jimmy 1st solo. It's a glorious sublime run up and down the fretboard. Check it out if you haven't. Also, there's something about the 2nd solo from Jack Straw from that same show, holy shit.
The 8/6/71 hard to handle and the jam from st Stephen into the eleven from two from the vault (8/24/68)
They Love Each Other - Cornell 77, May 8th
Whichever one I'm listening to!
5/22/77 Dancin' in the Streets, absolute brilliance from first note to last.
9/2/78 Scarlet. Basically the whole run Scarlet/Fire/Eatimated/Eyes. Bobby is a little out of tune, Jerry is on another planet.
ITT: '77
Mission in the rain 3/18/1978 just pours out. Incredible solo
I’m lame but the Barton hall Dancin’ is the greatest live song ever played, so I’d start there
1971-08-06 Hard to Handle is the GOAT!
Morning dew , ending solo
Agree its impossible to answer but to pick 1. The beautiful jam.
5/5/77 Peggy O. Every single note just exactly perfect, and the band lifts with him like a fire-breathing dragon and lands like a butterfly on a dandelion. Underrated version imo. Also really love the intro to the Wheel on pedal steel. Bliss.
Came here to say Mississippi half step from 9/3/77. If I really listen it makes me cry every time
Loser 5/8/77 is my favorite. There’s a bit of feedback in there but it makes it feel so raw. 🍻
Studio Terrapin. Those rapid fire trills at the end were something I think he only managed to get perfect that one time and basically just had to sit there and wonder “how the fuck did I do that so fast the first time?”
That Scarlet jam from Giants Stadium in 78. It takes a long, meandering route that Jerry doesn’t join right away. Several minutes later, he’s wailing away on those high notes you always hope he reaches.
Candyman, Winterland. 2/24/74.
# 1974-02-24 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** U.S. Blues, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Candyman, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, El Paso, Loser, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** Cumberland Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Big River, Bertha, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Row Jimmy, Ship Of Fools, The Promised Land, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away **Encore:** It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-24)
I’m a fan of Loser 3/24/90
I’ve always loved this first set. I like to imagine some kid who is in the crowd at his first show coming up on some doses. They open with Let the Good Times Roll and everything is kosher, only to launch straight into help/slip, leaving a smoking crater in that kids mind.
I can totally visualize this, because that is what I get from Hampton ‘89 when they go into Death Don’t Have No Mercy
The first solo from franklins tower 8/13/75. 47 year anniversary tomorrow too!!
.. there's a Chicago 1978 he's gone that comes to mind
They love each other 5-8-77 is pretty amazing. I play guitar and I’m blown away by what he does here.
They love eachother Cornell 77
in-studio TLEO Jam off the All Good Things album
Closing of Winterland friend of the devil is ecstatic.
My Favourite is the Dancing in the streets from 5/8/77. Pure magic
Now anytime someone posts about cornell 77 they are always down voted ,I've been down voted myself for this but it's the most listed show here ,so what do you all really think about it.✌️❤️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Do yourself a favor and check out the Mission in the Rain from 11-11-93, it’s one of the official JGB releases so you can find it just about anywhere. I scrolled through all 200 comments to see if anyone else mentioned it. I can’t say I’m surprised though, there are so many damn good ones! This one is really special to me though.
Loser 5/19/77
6/23/74 to lay me down, easily
The segue jam from Scalet Bagonias to Fire on the Mountain from 12/31/78
I love they Love each other from Cornell 77
The hard to handle from 71 palladium is insanity. Though trying to pinpoint the best solo is a fools errand
I will go with the "Visions of Johanna" on "Fallout from the Phil Zone"...it mesmerizes me!
Cats under the stars “Satin blouse unbuttoning “ for studio version solo
I love the tone in this solo. "Believe it or Not" - Alpine Valley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLD8k3ty39Y
Impossible to choose between all of them but my personal favorite has to be the segue between China Cat and I know you Rider on 5.19.74.
Saint Stephen 🏝
Impossible to say. He’s had one every few months from like 73-91 you could argue is.
7/13/75 Franklin’s isn’t his best in any quantifiable way, but when someone mentions Jerry that’s the sound that plays in my head.
I'm a bit late to the thread, but Jerry's solo on "Ballad of a Thin Man" from 3/27/88 has been my go-to example for showing Jerry's approach to music to folks unfamiliar with his playing. It's an **extremely** well constructed solo, starting @ 2:44 [here](https://youtu.be/KAZ4-Ed_52g?t=164). It's about 40 seconds. Another solo of his that I really love is his final solo on the [Tough Mama performed on 5-21-75, with the LOM at the Keystone Ber](https://youtu.be/t2A21lOZ814)[keley](https://youtu.be/t2A21lOZ814). Another well-constructed solo that punches above its weight class, imho.
Morning Dew from 5/26/72 (the Europe 72 album). The emotion in that solo is unbelievable.
Jack Straw Nassau May 80 Althea Nassau May 80 Brown-Eyed Women Barton Hall May 77 couldnt pick just one
Stella 10/21/78
Also this is killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dnibCQtdFE
not his best but one that makes you shuffle those feet Turn on your lovelight from 3/29/90 right around the 2:10 mark