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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

Playin' In The Band
June 22, 1973
Pacific Coliseum

Just to clarify in case anyone is confused: Phil's two-chord modulation that evokes a proto-FoTM and leads Jerry into some FoTM-like riffing occurs between 05:10 and 05:45 on Mr. Charlie (Miller's) transfer, and not the link here, which starts with several minutes of dead air and tuning.
All Along the Watchtower
March 24, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Amongst the hardest rocking Jerry solos ever. They fly over this like the the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and it's mind-blowing to say the least. "Shredding" doesn't begin to cover it, it's more like "nuking" or "machine gunning" here. No secret that I don't get around to much 90s Dead, but this is undoubtedly a hot version from a hot show. Superior grade A+ top shelf jamming.
The Other One
June 20, 1987
Greek Theater

But then they just turn on a whisper into a feather-gentle Wharf Rat to make it all okay. They knew.
All Along the Watchtower
June 20, 1987
Greek Theater

Kicks off hard and furious. The Dead had been honoring Dylan since the early days, and there had been more and more in the setlists at this time in their history, so this first-time performance was pleasantly surprising but also seemed like the most natural thing in the world. They kill it here, also leading into a nice Wheel and a speedy-trip TOO that's nice and gooey.
Cold Rain and Snow
Jan. 3, 1970
Fillmore East

Quite different from others from this time: Could be a happy byproduct of the mix or perhaps they were experimenting with a slightly slower, mellower vibe but Bobby's fills and rhythmic touches give this a nice flavor.