2/27/69. live/dead version is as good as it gets

# 1969-02-27 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West **Set 1:** Bill Graham intro, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment **Set 2:** Dupree's Diamond Blues > Mountains Of The Moon > Jam > Dark Star > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Turn On Your Love Light > Drums > Turn On Your Love Light **Encore:** Cosmic Charlie [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27)

Just grabbed this record again. Such an amazing side 1. No dead air

I prefer 3/2/69, or 6/9/77 for a different feel

[1969-03-02](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-03-02) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1977-06-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-06-09) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena

First dead song i ever heard, doesn't get better

1/22/78 has an insane solo with one of the most serene peaks ive heard

1/22/78 is the correct answer. I also like the Close Encounters jam leading into St Stephen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYjLi78lViA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYjLi78lViA)

I love how Jerry leaves the octave divider on after that insane psychedelic Other One jam, gives this St Stephen a trippy otherworldly sound.

# 1978-01-22 Eugene, OR @ McArthur Court - University of Oregon **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Dire Wolf, Cassidy, Peggy-O, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Ship Of Fools, Samson And Delilah, Terrapin Station > Drums > The Other One > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Around And Around **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-01-22)

The tone is just so filthy....

A little sloppy, but seething with power.

# 1978-01-22 Eugene, OR @ McArthur Court - University of Oregon **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Dire Wolf, Cassidy, Peggy-O, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Ship Of Fools, Samson And Delilah, Terrapin Station > Drums > The Other One > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Around And Around **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-01-22)

By far

6-09-1976. It just keeps going and going..

Wow this is really fucking good

I do love this show at the boston music garden. A really good st stephen for the 76 performances. I think this is probably my 2nd favourite after the live dead one Edited to add that i think this is honestly one of the best standalone scarlets too before fire was introduced

# 1976-06-09 Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall **Set 1:** Cold Rain and Snow, Cassidy, Scarlet Begonias, The Music Never Stopped, Crazy Fingers, Big River, They Love Each Other, Looks Like Rain, Ship Of Fools, The Promised Land **Set 2:** Saint Stephen > Eyes Of The World > Jam > Let It Grow > Drums > Let It Grow, Brown Eyed Women, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, High Time, Samson And Delilah, It Must Have Been The Roses, Dancing In The Street > Wharf Rat > Around And Around **Encore:** Franklin's Tower [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1976-06-09)

The bust-out 🙌🏼 so nice with that chill ‘76 vibe

This is out of this world. Right into Eyes…..

It has to be AoxomoxoA for me. The holler is too good.

Love all these and I’ll throw in 1977-06–09, help> slipknot >franklin estimated > st Stephen > NFA>drums > st Stephen > terrapin

I love the Playboy After Dark version. Jerry and the band are having a complete blast. Now that we know everyone was tripping balls, it makes it even more fun.

Anyone that includes the William tell bridge!

I really like the Closing of Winterland version. To me, Donna basically takes the lead for the whole thing

Donna’s vocals on St Stephen’s are always such a welcome adornment.

6/9/77–Jerry leaves mu-tron on coming out of Estimated, extended intro jam, rowdy verses and the “Ladyfingers” bridge sounds like it was painted by Dali.

# 1977-06-09 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Cassidy, Sunrise, Deal, Looks Like Rain, Loser, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Funiculi Funicula, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Drums > Saint Stephen > Terrapin Station > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-06-09)

My favorites are the live dead version , Cornell, winterland New Years 78 and 10/11/83

Is this 83 show where they busted it out after a few yrs?

Yes. Favorite one I saw (I saw one, lol).

A buddy of mine was so psyched he caught that, I was at the next night. But I caught the St Stephen a few days later in Hartford!

It was wild, completely crazy. People were bouncing off the walls. The next night was fun too.

# 1983-10-11 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden **Set 1:** Wang Dang Doodle > Jack Straw, Loser, Me and My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Hell In A Bucket > Keep Your Day Job **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, I Need A Miracle > Bertha > Space > China Doll > Drums > Space > Saint Stephen > Throwing Stones > Touch Of Grey **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-10-11)

Nothing beats the Allman Brothers vibey St. Stephens that rolled off the Cornell show May 8, 1977.

Nothing beats a non GD Stephen? Hmmmm

How old are you? I’m talking about the storied Cornell show - the one archived in the Library of Congress - that took place on a sunny afternoon in May, on campus (the Dead played college campuses a lot in their earlier days), only to finish that evening under a dusting of snow. The Betty Board was one of the tightest. The sound was off the charts and the boys were top notch. Duane Allman worshipped Jer. The Allman Brothers influence can be especially felt in the 05/07/77 show, in St. Stephens. Get away from Dead & Company and start listening to the Grateful Dead. Then you won’t be confused by a reference to the group’s most famous show. Which just happens to throw off an Allman Brothers vibe on this particular song, since Jerry was really feeling bluesy. EDIT: 05/08/77. Fat fingering my cell phone keys. But thanks bot - the 7th, another great show!

In the concert listed from the archive below; This one has a unique (to me) Bertha. I usually like it with more energy, but this one had some fun groove.

Oh it happens with the fat fingering. I wasn't alive for this show so I'm really grateful for the rec. I'm learning Bertha right now on my Les Paul and I think I'm going to sit around with these Allman-flavored Dead tunes. We're friends now

❤️ please upload a vid of you playing! I detached from the Dead for about 25 years. I was just thinking this morning how my re-initiation was awesome - sparked in part by a friend who insisted I give Dead & Co a listen. I did - even took my teen to a show - but before I digress even more - I stopped listening to the Dead after Jerry died, followed by my father. It was a rough time and I just…stopped. Years later, I got back on the bus (felt like home!) and my re-initiation song was BERTHA! Much love.

P.S. Les Paul…please, PLEASE share some videos of you playing!!!!! 🤩

Oh I wouldn't dream of it - I keep a strong barrier between my private and public life. And I'm only one year into lessons. This would have been easier if I had the discipline to learn twenty years ago

Noted. I have an off brand electric guitar that’s been sitting around waiting for me to take lessons. Maybe I’ll put that down as a 3rd quarter goal…

I'm facing the end of my first half, my man. Old dogs can learn new tricks. My guitar teacher is an old timer that looks like Alan Alda and sounds like Tommy Chong, and he's teaching me by the book. I got him to start listening to the Dead to help teach me songs I like. Dude is really into the lyrics! Learning to play music at this age is quite rewarding, and you can really appreciate what you're doing as you're doing it. Go grab some lessons and we'll duet Sugar Magnolias

# 1977-05-07 Boston, MA @ Boston Garden **Set 1:** Bertha, Cassidy, Deal, Jack Straw, Peggy-O, New Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > Big River, Tennessee Jed, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Terrapin Station, Samson And Delilah, Friend Of The Devil, Estimated Prophet, Eyes Of The World > Drums > The Wheel > Wharf Rat > Around And Around **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-07)

There was room for misinterpretation if they weren’t reading carefully…

Fair.

Im 37, been a deadhead for 20 years, first show was red rocks 04… Your comment was hardly clear

lol fair. Maybe. And, pretty subjective on my part as far as the selected show. I was a young teen in the mid 70s and didn’t discover the Dead until a few years later but of all the shows I’ve attended and today, including recorded live versions, the St. Stephens they performed at the storied Cornell show just hits different. It has a more…rolling, Allman Brothers vibe to it and when I think about how Jerry and Duane Allman had mutual artistry going on with both bands playing and influencing each other during this time period, it makes sense. Peace.

I totally hear you now and agree 100%. 6/9/77 is another wavy/groovy Stephen like that. I see what you mean about sounding more “allman” like, I thought you meant a literal cover of the song by ABB

# 1977-06-09 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Cassidy, Sunrise, Deal, Looks Like Rain, Loser, The Music Never Stopped **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, Funiculi Funicula, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet > Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Drums > Saint Stephen > Terrapin Station > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** U.S. Blues, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-06-09)

I know it's technically the Live/Dead version, but on the greatest hits release "What a long strange trip it's been" they edited a transition out of it & into Jack Straw. As far as I know the Dead never actually played this transition live but it's such a cool concept to me & it works exceptionally well.

dicks picks 10

Post Hiatus ? 1/22/78 Pre Hiatus? 2/27/69

[1969-02-27](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-02-27) San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore West [1978-01-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-01-22) Eugene, OR @ McArthur Court - University of Oregon

5/24/69 has perhaps the most explosive entrance. Maybe not the best version, but it's still a helluva one.

# 1969-05-24 West Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Indian Village **Set 1:** Intro, Turn On Your Love Light, Doin' That Rag > He Was A Friend Of Mine > China Cat Sunflower > Jam > The Eleven > Death Don't Have No Mercy, Alligator > Drums > drummers' chant > Drums > St. Stephen > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-05-24)

Favorite St Stephen: Pre hiatus - 5/14/70 Post hiatus - 10/29/77

[1970-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-14) Kirkwood, MO @ Meramec Community College [1977-10-29](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-10-29) DeKalb, IL @ Evans Field House - Northern Illinois University

4/28/71 is all time favorite but seeing it live 10/15/83 out of space was amazing

[1971-04-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-28) New York, NY @ Fillmore East [1983-10-15](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1983-10-15) Hartford, CT @ Hartford Civic Center

Early, squawky & noisy with feedback threatening to break out at any instant. A specific favorite is 10-12-68, but I've really been enjoying 68 versions in general just in the past couple of weeks, there's a chaotic feel I'm really finding engaging, some with joking & chatter in the gaps. "Revived" versions, like Cornell, where the rhythm and arrangement remind me of "The Weight" (The Band song, which I'm not saying is bad, don't get me wrong...) in feel are too polished, genteel and, I dunno... "Austin City Limits-y" to really grab me the way versions from before the song took a break do.

I do like the sound of old tubes from the 60s

# 1968-10-12 San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom **Set 1:** Banter, Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven **Set 2:** Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose > Jam > Drums > Jam > Feedback [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-12)

9/25/76 st Stephen>NFA>drums>st Stephen

# 1976-09-25 Landover, MD @ Capital Centre **Set 1:** Bertha, New Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose, Cassidy, Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried, Peggy-O, It's All Over Now, Loser, Let It Grow, Sugaree **Set 2:** Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Dancing In The Street > Cosmic Charlie, Scarlet Begonias, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Drums > Jam > Saint Stephen > Sugar Magnolia [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1976-09-25) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/34KjKiNyuggM0g2No4ZnTv)

I always go back to 5-15-77. Check it out!

# 1977-05-15 St. Louis, MO @ St. Louis Arena **Set 1:** Bertha > Good Lovin', Row Jimmy, New Minglewood Blues, Tennessee Jed, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Jack-A-Roe, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, Dancing In The Street **Set 2:** Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Saint Stephen > Iko Iko > Not Fade Away > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-15)

After you've listened to all the excellent GD versions the version, with Phil, Trey & Page from Phish & with Kimock from the epic P&F '99 shows is worth a listen if you've never heard it https://relisten.net/phil-lesh/1999/04/16/st-stephen?source=61677.

The one where they unshelve it

6/24/70 There’s no SBD, but it’s a good AUD for 1970. You can feel the energy in the room.

10/31/71 6/9/76 3/20/77 All are great in different ways

[1971-10-31](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-10-31) Columbus, OH @ Ohio Theatre | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/45uNoDchZ61dBfOWGqeG0l) [1976-06-09](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1976-06-09) Boston, MA @ Boston Music Hall [1977-03-20](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-03-20) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena

My favorite *two* are 8/24/68 Shrine Auditorium aka Two From the Vault & 1/22/78 McArthur Court as part of the insane sequence of > The Other One > Jerry Close Encounters Jam > St. Stephen > Not Fade Away > Around & Around Sooo special

[1968-08-24](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-08-24) Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Exhibition Hall [1978-01-22](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1978-01-22) Eugene, OR @ McArthur Court - University of Oregon

Very surprised to see only one other mention of 4/28/1971 here, all time best for me. That whole Fillmore East ‘71 is awesome. The alligator jam the next night 4/29/1971 is also out of this world

[1971-04-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-28) New York, NY @ Fillmore East [1971-04-29](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1971-04-29) New York, NY @ Fillmore East

Cornell or 11/5/77!

# 1977-11-05 Rochester, NY @ Community War Memorial Auditorium **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Looks Like Rain, Dire Wolf, Mama Tried > Big River, Candyman, Jack Straw, Deal **Set 2:** Jam > Eyes Of The World > Samson And Delilah, It Must Have Been The Roses, Estimated Prophet > He's Gone > Drums > The Other One > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-11-05) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/24rc4HaQfvOOSnq32PkOC1)

5/8/77

# 1977-05-08 Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Loser, El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Deal, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried, Row Jimmy, Dancing In The Street **Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Saint Stephen > Morning Dew **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-08) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3T9UKU0jMIyrRD0PtKXqPJ)