A mildy confusing thought hit me recently, “Best of the Grateful Dead” I thought there must be be 100’s even thousands of albums circulating around. I would not want to be the one in the unenviable position who declares the Best of the Dead (for example the top 100).
I was listening to Franklin’s Tower; and thought for a test, I will ask the forum members to nominate their favorite version of Franklin’s Tower with the name of the album (yeah this is a self serving challenge on my behalf 
).
Wouldn’t this be better as a separate thread? I would contribute my 1.5 cents worth there.
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You are on… I will request @Elk to set up a thread for that very purpose. Maybe, decorate with a photo of a large Indian rug.
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Hi Chas, are you looking for favorite versions of the Grateful Dead tune, “Franklin’s Tower”?
If so, the thread title should be modified to make that clear.
And if so, I vote for the 17-minute live version from June 9, 1977 at Winterland on CD8 of the 9-CD box set, Winterland June 1977: The Complete Recordings.
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Thanks Dan, its playing now (on repeat).
Chas
Edit, Qobuz offers 172 albums by the Dead, but I could not find Winterland June 1977, a great bummer.
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Here is the 6/9/77 show for free legal streaming on Archive dot org.
Many people consider it an all-time top-five Dead show.
Found it, thank you. It is a great version.
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I really do like the studio version on Blues for Allah. The period up to Blues for Allah and that album are my favorite years of the Dead. Earlier post-retirement 
live versions are okay but I don’t really have a clear favorite.
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Another great “Help>Slip>Frank” (Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower) appears on One from the Vault, which contains the August 13, 1975 concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
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Well, I’ll take the easy way out, with Franklin’s Tower from Blues for Allah. A lot of memories associated with that particular version, and what a fine album cover. Worth repeating:
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If you look real hard, you can download the entire collection for free from the internet. Only listened to one song and it sounds great,
Cheers,
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Great album art, either rendition.
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I’m pretty sure the best Franklin’s Tower is the one you happen to be listening to 
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