Best Loser you haven’t heard yet! Jerry takes the solo for an extra walk around the block! Required listening folks!

Jerry’s tone is just impeccable here! Moreover, Jerry adds a tad more umph to the soulful vocals. A standout of the era!

Blazing version, but I nominated it primarily for its placement within the context of the tasty Playin'->Half-Step->Big River->Playin' sandwich.

Jerry's pipes never sounded sweeter, and Keith's barrel-house piano chops complements perfectly!

Deserves mention.

Brilliant display of musicianship here.

I feel obliged to offer a dissenting take on this one. On the one hand, this version goes the distance in terms of daring audacity; it’s as if Jerry is saying, “ok, let’s really follow where this thing takes us”… unchartered waters here we come! And while such experiments usually pay off musical dividends, it doesn’t mean it always works. That said, this version is not without merit - It’s one better suited for the seasoned head in search of something different rather than the neophyte who recently got on the bus. This Bird Song takes a mighty flight, but the flapping wings sound tattered, a bit off-kilter in moments. This jam is more cool dissonance than the warm, lush lullaby that many have come to rely on in the song. I wouldn’t call this version “definitive” by any means, but this reading is an interesting alternative to definitive versions of the year: 2/26/81, 3/9/81, 10/16/81 (acoustic) & 12/5/81.

Still give the Nod to 5/1/81 Hampton, but this one cooks indeed.

^Grendel: Nice to hear. I had written off Eyes of the 1980s for many years until I “bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see.” This case offers further proof there’s golden nuggets to be unearthed in the strangest of places. Funny you mention 11/4/77: That version is still my favorite “fast” Eyes, and I hold it dear almost as much as you do 10/29/77! You are a self-professed 1977 snob, while I claim to be a 1973 snob. I’ll still reach for Eyes of the ‘73’-74 period first, but it’s versions like 11/4/77 and 8/10/82 that can make one realize that different eras can offer their own unique charms. One thing we true heads know: Never underestimate this band!

This portion of the show never awed me like it has the above posters, but perhaps I'll have to revisit. One thing for sure, though: The Scarlet and Help->Slip->Frank from this night are top-shelf fo sho.