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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49687


Submissions

25
Scarlet Begonias
May 19, 1974
Portland Memorial Coliseum

Short succint and distilled to its '74 essence. Plus Donna's sexiest "Ohhhhhhhhh" ever.
9
Brokedown Palace
Dec. 2, 1971
Boston Music Hall

Sweet as honey. Holds together in perfect harmony and never drags.
2
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 2, 1971
Boston Music Hall

Pushes against the melody: Late '71 and the song's potential is about to burst free in the months ahead. You can feel it, and it's good.
15
Ship of Fools
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

For any SoF doubters out there, this one is as convincing as they come. Everything comes together nicely, and there isn't a single downer on deck.
16
Loose Lucy
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

Faster than most. And mad funky.
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Comments

Cosmic Charlie
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

One of the best I know: They're having a blast. The growling grinding combination of Jerry and the keys (Pigpen? TC? both?) gives it an energetic tight swinging sound during the verses, and an unexpected almost punk-rock blown-amp sounding bridge to the "calling you" section. Cosmic Charlie is so legendary and mythic: People held banners at shows with the number of days past since it was last performed and annual set-lists would say Cosmic Charlie: 0 with a sad-face next to it. Hear it here in a uniquely tight and fun version.
Dark Star
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

TC is too high in the mix, but so what? In most recordings of the era it's almost impossible to hear any indication of what he brought, so this is an interesting document if nothing else. It's also musically a whirligig of fun, even if a bit scattered in places. Deduct points for the mix if you must.
Turn On Your Love Light
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

The stoned moron arhythmically yelling 'whoo whoooo' at the beginning and "Grateful Dead!!! Grateful Dead!!!" towards the end bring me right back to my tour days. ;-)
Dark Star
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Fans of the Live Dead-era should really know this one. Sonically it shares a lot with the more famous ones of the era, but its flow is just as perfect and the ideas and clear telepathy between Jerry and Bobby throughout is gorgeous. There may be a bit of a tuning or tape-speed wobble in places, but the C.Miller cleanup is pristine.
New Potato Caboose
Aug. 24, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Jerry's solo can ignite paper at 1000 yards too. I mean Phil gets a lot of deserving love here, but I just gotta add that bit about the guitarist.
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