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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

3
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Joyful chaos: A brilliant splatter. Bobby's voice never sounded so good to me as it did in '71.
5
Mister Charlie
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Pigpen at his best with the band at its grit-in-the-gears crunchiest. They were on this night and this one is just full of butt.
6
Wharf Rat
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

Very passionate version, some distortion or tape speed issues (?) remind me of my cassette trading days and bring out the trippiness to the song.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

If this hard grooving China jam and Feeling Groovy transition doesn't just get you moving, then nothing can. Just perfect.
10
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

First version ever is real nice... but listen to the soundcheck version for insight into the bands working dynamics. Cool to hear them working on it.

Comments

Easy Wind
June 13, 1970
Red Vest

Ok, so there's a bit of controversy as to whether this show ever happened. Nevertheless, don't let the rough AUD beginnings fool you, at around the 03:15 mark this one clears up into a SBD patch and the jam is one of clear, well-grooved professional '70 sound. Pig's voice is beautiful, and whether or not they were really in Hawaii for a two-show vacation seems beside the point. Here it is. Enjoy. Of course I'm referring here to track 2 on the Archive's only version of this date. The "Easy Wind" track 12 from the same date (questionable) sounds like some filler from another date, plus the mix is very off, with patches of only Phil audible, and almost no vocals in it. Track 14 on the same date is yet a third "Easy Wind", which is also of fairly wrecked tape quality.
Terrapin Station
June 9, 1977
Winterland Arena

The outro, definitely, kicks hard, with just the right amount of prog epic on it. Here, have an upvote.
St. Stephen
June 9, 1977
Winterland Arena

Very strong intro, with the mellow post-hiatus sound magically merged with that perfect '77 musicianship. Great transition into NFA too.
Dancin' in the Streets
June 11, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Hey Dantian! Welcome aboard friend. If you dig Dancin' from '76, (and I know you do...) then check out how they start tweaking it big style in September and October of the same year. There's some wild transitional free-form stuff from the Fall '76 tour, and they're some of my top-shelf Dead from of all time. Cheers!
Estimated Prophet
June 9, 1977
Winterland Arena

Will cause brain blisters if used improperly. Chases that eerie mystery at the heart of this song that can make it so transfixing, and sometimes even slightly menacing. Jerry sounds like he could just go on forever here.