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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

6
Black Peter
Dec. 19, 1969
Fillmore Auditorium

One of the first, and its strong and tight and powerful. Is there a bad show from Dec. '69?
2
Turn On Your Love Light
July 12, 1969
NY State Pavilion, Flushing Meadow Park

Goes way off the rails with Bobby, Pig, audience members and Phil all acting quite mad. Reminds me of some of the Acid Test recordings. A rarity.
4
The Eleven
July 12, 1969
NY State Pavilion, Flushing Meadow Park

Expanding over 14 minutes, this one covers different themes and vibes with great streches for soloing. Low-fi AUD.
4
Dark Star
July 12, 1969
NY State Pavilion, Flushing Meadow Park

Some AUD probs but a glowing, surging perfect slice of '69 Dead. Begins acoustically. A rare treat from under the radar.
2
Mountains of the Moon
July 12, 1969
NY State Pavilion, Flushing Meadow Park

Buried in bad AUD murk and hiss, this was the last one ever performed. It's longer, slower and beautiful. A gem for completist collectors only.

Comments

Black Throated Wind
March 26, 1972
Academy of Music

Damn right. Sounds like they mastered it long before. Charlie Miller cleanup on this show is all that, too.
Estimated Prophet
May 25, 1977
The Mosque

Donnie's right here. I can't say this one touches the madness that makes this song so special. While my personal opinion is that the Dead were generally more musically interesting in '77 than they were in '91, I also think that the best Estimated Prophets convey jagged, off-kilter, schizophrenia, and could tip you over the edge given the right/wrong mental state. This one sounds like a work in progress - and I think this is one of, if not the best shows in all of '77.
How Sweet It Is
March 25, 1972
Academy of Music

This is one of the most brilliant versions of this song I've ever heard, whether or not I'm also a deadhead. (I am.) Donna never sounded better either.
Smokestack Lightnin'
March 25, 1972
Academy of Music

Pigpen comes out after an hour+ of, shall we say, a not-too-convincing Bo Diddley featuring the Grateful Dead set, and pours it on thick and luscious. Do you think he wanted to step up to Bo D. and say, "now that's how it's done", one bluesman to the next? It seems like the 'lil red rooster wanted to strut in his own backyard here. One of the best, and a painful reminder of how amazing Pigpen's sound could have blended with the emerging seventies Dead. It also sounds like half the band wanted to go into Truckin' for the last five minutes of vamping. Cool how it hovers around but never fully coalesces.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
March 23, 1972
Academy of Music

Cucamonga's right here. This one has no business with only two votes. Were they completely on fire? Did they leave anyone alive? Did they have to replace all their equipment afterwards? Jeez, this one's a scorcher, and needs to be much higher up.