Monty November 13, 2012, 16:12:51

Cornell 1977 of course.

Harold Ashenberg November 13, 2012, 16:19:21

Jerry Garcia band with Nicky Hopkins 1975

Matt November 13, 2012, 16:27:55

5/15/80 Nassau Coliseum; JGB 11/12/93 MSG

Griffin November 13, 2012, 16:37:11

9/21/82 MSG phenomenal early Touch of Grey; 12/12/80 Swing Aud. Greatest modern Wharf Rat.

Jim Witkowski November 13, 2012, 16:50:47

Montego Bay, Jamaica – 11/25/82 – The Dead hit the stage on the shores of Montego Bay sometime after 4am. During their 2nd set, the segue after Scarlet Begonias is cautiously timed so that the intro to Fire On The Mountain starts as the sun rises over the smoky mountains of Montego Bay, absolutely amazing.

Adam November 13, 2012, 16:58:54

6/18/74 Louisville, KY – the best WRS ?
6/8/77 Winterland Arena – my favorite ROR

MrCompletely November 13, 2012, 17:01:35

74/07/19 Fresno – GD 75/05/21 Keystone – Legion of Mary 76/02/21 SF – JGB 77/09/03 Englishtown – GD 78/04/24 Illinois – GD 79/10/25 New Haven – GD 80/10/31 RCMH – GD 81/08/28 Long Beach – GD 82/05/05 Oregon State Prison – Garcia/Kahn 83/10/21 – Woosta – GD

Darrell November 13, 2012, 17:03:34

Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL, August 19, 1980. Phenomenal 2nd set. The Playin>Comes A Time>Playin’ reprise was one for the books!

MrCompletely November 13, 2012, 17:06:29

oh sorry, explanations, not a list. well I’ll pick one – let’s say 5/21/75 Legion. It’s just pretty close to a perfected selection of the material in rotation at the time. There are a couple clear best-ever song versions and a couple more that would be in the debate. Pretty much everything is perfectly executed and Garcia is in absolute peak form for all aspects – guitar technique, vocal quality, and that indefinable inspiration aspect. Close to a perfect little show. Interestingly, he also played top shelf shows on this date in ’76 (JGB) and ’77 (GD) both of which are official releases.

AtelierHL November 13, 2012, 17:18:37

The 28 of march 1981 in the Kruga Halle in Essen, Germany, The Dead played a show that totally blew my mind. It was broadcasted, live, all over Europe. I saw it in a friends home, with the sound from the television through a hi-fi system, a few joints and a bottle of Cuervo Gold. Positively a life changing experience! Btw: I really like Bob Weir’s TRI studios… :-)

Joe T. November 13, 2012, 17:32:54

05-04-1979 – Hampton Coliseum; I remember so much raw energy at that show! First tour with Brent Midland and I recall an incredible Lazy Lightning but the whole show was hot (maybe because I had the worst case of sunburn!).

Tom November 13, 2012, 17:51:17

Fairgrounds, Lewiston, Maine 9.06.80 – Roy Buchanan. Levon Helm and a 4 + hour set by the Dead on a beautiful summer day.The closest thing to Woodstock I ever attended. Alabama Getaway-> Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Me & My Uncle-> Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Feel Like A Stranger, Friend Of The Devil, Far From Me, Little Red Rooster, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider-> Promised Land Shakedown Street, Lost Sailor-> Saint Of Circumstance, Althea, Playin’ In The Band-> Uncle John’s Band-> Drums-> Not Fade Away-> The Wheel-> Uncle John’s Band-> Playin’ In The Band-> Sugar Magnolia, E:One More Saturday Night-> E: Brokedown Palace

Ted e bear November 13, 2012, 18:12:14

Kingfish!
Bobby in green velvet knickers

Kathleen Rigby November 13, 2012, 19:01:13

My favorite Grateful Dead show is Barton Hall Cornell, 1977 wore the hell out of the tape..Side project would be ..Legion of Mary!!

Jake November 13, 2012, 19:17:59

Barton Hall/Cornell 77 or Elizabethtown 9/3/77

ChesterJack November 13, 2012, 19:27:34

Hard to pick just one but the run of shows in the fall of 1980 at Radio City Music Hall in NYC were without question the best shows I ever attended. The acoustic set which ended every night with Ripple to the then 2 set full electric show in the acoustically masterful Radio City were as good as it gets

thrive November 13, 2012, 23:01:27

anything from 5/1977 best month of dead

Roberto Lewisimo November 14, 2012, 00:07:46

Boston Music Hall June 11th, 1976 !!!!!

ricgrass November 14, 2012, 00:19:09

8/6/74- Roosevelt Stadium – Jersey City, NJ
Saw four memorable shows here including my first in ’72 and the
Jerry Birthday show in “73. Shows here never disappointed.
In “74 a persistent rain forced boys to cancel their initial try.
Hey the ticket said “to be held rain or shine” – 20,000 wet, stoned hippies said “now what”. They gave out “Ike & Tina Turner Revue ticket stubs on the way out for the make-up. I grabbed several & still have one. The show was rescheduled for the following Tuesday, the weather atoned and the place was packed.
The “Wall of Sound”. Beardless Jerry. Nixon was on his way out. There was a vibe, a cosmic vortex. No recording could capture this. A ‘had to be there’ experience! If I had a time machine, the grass on that field would be one of my stops.
I recall the band feeding off of the New York energy with a funky Bertha opening, a fantastic “Eyes’ & a 35 minute “Playin>Scarlet>Playin” sandwich to end the first set. Fireworks, Phil & Ned Seastones at the break and a 2nd set groove that burnt into my softened brain.

Steve November 14, 2012, 00:37:44

‘74-‘83 ? What an odd range. My favorites would be (In order): 8/6/74
6/28/74
10/19/74
6/26/74
5/25/74
5/19/77
8/13/75

Nancy Shenton November 14, 2012, 02:48:09

That’s hard to narrow down. Since 1972 I have seen many shows and they all hold an special place in my heart. I was fortunate enough to see them in Anchorage Alaska in the early 80’s at West High Aud. It was the smallest place I had seen the Dead. Personally any show was the best at the time!!!

stephen November 14, 2012, 08:39:39

springfield civic center june 74, was there, they were great

PAIRdoc November 14, 2012, 11:05:43

7/13/84 Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) – Full moon on Friday the 13th! Scarlet > Touch > Fire! Dark Star encore!! 6/14/85 Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) – 20th Anniversary show! Sgt. Pepper’s. Keep On Growing! Morning Dew > PITB > China Doll!

Bill Ronk November 14, 2012, 12:10:00

The one and only time the Dead played Idaho in 83.Most heads skipped from Teluride,CO show to Park City,Utah.Bypassing Boise.Unfortunately for them it turned out to be the killer show of that leg of the tour and all who went never regreted it.A show worthy of Dave’s Picks(please take notice Dave and check it out).So until anyone that missed it hears it don’t knock it.

NY Brad November 14, 2012, 16:26:39

Saratoga Performing Arts Center 1983

DSB November 14, 2012, 16:34:36

My favorite show would have to be Oxford, July 2, 1988. Didn’t want it to end.

Paul B November 14, 2012, 17:09:13

Broome County ArenaMay 09, 1979
Binghamton, NY
The reason:miracle tickets, unplanned event co-inciding with synchronicity of ‘sunshine’ and friends in Oswego deciding to attend on a 90 degree. IT was magically hot in so many ways.
China Cat> I Know You Rider
He’s Gone> Truckin> Drumz
> Wharf Rat> Sugar Magnolia And the Truckin and China-Rider were amazing….what a sweet second set…a ball of sweat!

Patrick Macri November 14, 2012, 17:21:19

Rochester 1977

Joseph Fraser November 14, 2012, 17:56:26

Auditorium Theater, 1976

Todd Eisele November 14, 2012, 18:21:18

The Dec. 10,1979 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall Kansas City Kansas show. My first show at age 16 and got separated from my friends before the show in the parking lot. Some older heads saw I was lost and said “Hey kid, stick out your tongue and follow us to the front row.” I did and saw the next night too and for the next 14yrs I followed the Dead religiously. I could never thank them enough.

Tom Doherty November 14, 2012, 19:07:03

Buffalo War Memorial 1977

idahobobb November 14, 2012, 20:30:59

have to second that saratoga show with brad….my first GD…i was on forevermore….seeing phil real soon here in dec

Eugene November 15, 2012, 02:32:15

Best side project of that era was Legion of Mary, bar none.

Dean November 15, 2012, 02:59:35

For me 8/30/80 Philly Spectrum comes to mind…
It was a hot, humid, end of the summer day, but it was hotter inside. The Jack Straw that closed the 1st Set was white hot!... Phil dropped these bombs that made the whole building shake, I remember feeling the music fill my body and explode inside me…. The Scarlet > Fire in the Second Set was incredible! Jerry just cut loose, and the whole crowd joined in the vocals. This show left it’s mark with me, I STILL think of this show, almost 33 year ago.

Arthur Levitt November 15, 2012, 03:57:45

5/11/72, 12/2/73,7/27/73,6/10/73, 4/29/71, 3/2/69, 1/17/68
To name a few

Brezelbu November 15, 2012, 04:08:17

The unique Rockpalast Concert in Essen / Germany 1981-03-28!
Billed with The Who.
Pete Townshend sat in while the encore set for NFA.
Best Wharf Rat ever imoho.

voxpapa November 15, 2012, 05:27:53

Rochester 11-4-77 JGB Cats Under the Stars Tour with Keith, Donna and Maria Mulaur

Dave November 15, 2012, 09:03:33

One show that stands out for me was April 15th 1978 in Williamsburg VA at The College of William & Mary. We made the trek down from Philly on this beautiful spring day to visit this quaint colonial town for tourists to see the boys. It seemed as though EVERYONE was yippin’, including the ushers who were all college students. This show featured the years ONLY Morning Dew, and what a “Dew” it was! A truly heart wrenching show of emotion & beauty that left me in awe of what I just heard. Jerry was really on this night, man do I miss him!

Dwayne Hamm November 15, 2012, 10:29:21

Furthur – Simpsonville, SC 7/29/11

Roland November 16, 2012, 12:36:37

Ventura County Fair Grounds 84 and 85.
Seeing the GD by the beach was outstanding!

Bruce November 16, 2012, 12:54:40

only 1974-1983? BEST SHOW and BEST JERRY GUITAR SOLO EVER CAPTURED... Brown Eyed Women From 5/8/77 – Barton Hall, Cornell NY 2nd Place
5/25/74 UC Santa Barbara – Every song! 3rd Place
6/29/76 Chicago – Mission in the Rain

Kyle November 20, 2012, 17:35:11

I’m always shocked that more people don’t cite 2/26/77 San Bernardo, CA as one of the Dead’s best shows. Beyond the fact that it has the first Terrapin ever, it is great from start to finish.

Phil November 20, 2012, 21:07:16

Red Rox
07-08-1978
Full Moon, Bobby in Werewolf mask for encore.

Jones November 22, 2012, 00:23:21

4/6/82 – Philly Spectrum. Most emotionally satisfying Terrapin Station. Superb Lost Sailor>St of Circumstance. First set Cold Rain & Snow packs a punch. This was the first Dead show that turned the lights on for me.

Russ November 22, 2012, 23:44:58

I have to agree with Tom here. Lewiston, Me 9-6-80. Best out of 400+ shows. Other top shows: Springfield, MA 5-11-78, Berkeley, CA 7-13-84, Marin Civic 4-1-84, Nassau Coliseum 3-29-90. This only includes shows I actually saw.

Marshall November 30, 2012, 02:37:32

Of my 200-ish shows, I can easily say it was Saratoga 1983. What a magnificent day! It changed my life.

J Thomas December 19, 2012, 18:31:14

7/8/1978 – Morrison, Colorado…Yes this Red Rocks show kicks some serious butt. This is a high energy show that really showcases the guys at the peak of what they do. Eyes>Drum/Space>Warf Rat is magical and the Terrapin will take your there. Werewolves of London encore finishes the show in that party vibe that so categorizes the night.

Mark G December 19, 2012, 19:27:04

The first show of 1974, 2.22.74 at Winterland. Epic.

Neal Madnick December 19, 2012, 20:15:27

6/30/74 Springfield Mass. An incredibly “unknown” show with a Playin’ that’s incredible!

NY Brad December 20, 2012, 16:28:38

Jerry, Merle Saunders, John Kahn, Bill Vitt Palace Theatre, Albany, NY 1974

Michael Baum February 8, 2013, 15:47:55

The Winterland run on October 17/18/20/21/22, 1978. These were the first shows after they came back from the ones in Egypt. Just EPIC all the way around !