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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

15
Mister Charlie
Aug. 7, 1971
Golden Hall

Jerry leans into it with a jaw-tighteningly crisp and high-voltage tone for a killer solo, though the group is a bit loose. Pigpen sounds amazing.
6
Rosalie McFall
Sept. 26, 1980
Warfield Theater

Absolute goodness. These shows are all so beautiful, the playing is all virtuoso, and the feeling is so positive. Brent here is especially perfect.
2
Dark Hollow
Sept. 26, 1980
Warfield Theater

Perfect. Bobby's silky voice, Gerry's understated but perfect picking, and Brent's barrelhouse honkytonk all on proud display.
1
The Other One
Sept. 23, 1976
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Poor sound quality midway through, but its the first '76 set since the hiatus that goes off-the-rails weird, evoking the Wall of Sound era. Hot stuff.
2
Samson and Delilah
Sept. 23, 1976
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Bobby tears it up, not just vocally, but through brilliant guitar work

Comments

The Eleven
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

Jump on this wild Carousel ride folks. Because this isn't on the archive I hadn't heard it until now, but it's the bomb. From its note-for-note perfect transition out of China Cat to one of their tightest performance of the lyrics, then its broiling-hot furnace of a jam into Caution, this should be up there with the best of them.
New Potato Caboose
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

While I love this and am happy to have the Download series, I feel like it lacks the crackling high-voltage danger that many of the recordings from the era have. This isn't about their performance, which is f'n brilliant, but the compressed sound. I'm guessing that they had to compromise on crispness to get a better balance in the mix. Still, it's '68 Dead and I love it.
Turn On Your Love Light
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

The Download series has a warm but muted sound quality that makes this both hot and cool at the same time. This version doesn't have the wild Pig life-coaching that came later, but does have that brilliant '68 ensemble jamming that blows your hair back and steals your face, leaving nothing but perma-grin.
Turn On Your Love Light
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

The Download series has a warm but muted sound quality that makes this both hot and cool at the same time. This version doesn't have the wild Pig life-coaching that came later, but does have that brilliant '68 ensemble jamming that blows your hair back and steals your face, leaving nothing but perma-grin.
Mama Tried
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Everyone loves the Swing, but don't skip the Mama!