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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

2
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 15, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Kicks off an excellent show with intense and driving energy. The quintet is super-charged and bursting with energy. One of the best versions I know.
2
Playin' In The Band
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Packs a lot into its 4.5 short minutes. Great bass-heavy SBD gives you a Phil masterclass. Love the short ones, love the long ones....
4
Casey Jones
Aug. 5, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Just kickin', this one. The whole show is dynamite.
2
El Paso
Aug. 4, 1971
Terminal Island Correctional Facility

One of the slower waltz versions, with lovely vocals from Cowboy Bob, who gives us a nice country warble. Sweet backup harmony and Jer being Jer.
6
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Aug. 4, 1971
Terminal Island Correctional Facility

Philzone masterclass. Hot and tight jam, the Rider three-part harmonies sound like some of the acoustic versions from the previous year.

Comments

Cold Rain and Snow
June 27, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

CRS show-openers were always my signal that they meant business: It has that bite and jump with a big shout chorus that demonstrated tight ensemble playing from the first note of the show. This one is no exception, except that it's got a mellower, more melodious smooth '76 vibe. It's a beauty for sure, and a perfect representation of where they were for the Summer tour after the hiatus.
Crazy Fingers
Feb. 28, 1975
Bob Weir's Studio

Nice reference Cucamonga! Just listened to the Live at Pompeii version today to start my morning. Does anyone know if the Dead and Pink Floyd ever crossed paths? Played the same festival? Any historians out there?
Samson and Delilah
June 26, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

Samson highlights the return of Mickey and the two-drummer line-up like no other song in the '76 repertoire. Plus this one bumps and struts like a straight-up power gospel. The Dead didn't always get you to church, but this one definitely has the touch of the spirit.
St. Stephen
June 26, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

Wild fun and a great party ride on this Stephen, which is a bit more uptempo than others from '76. Has the sense of the bell ringing out in triumph towards the end that marks the best ones for me. I love the slightly shaggy looseness of this whole PITB-SS-Wheel-PITB sammy.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
June 26, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

Captures the kaleidoscopic carousel feeling better than a lot of others on this list. This whole first set is full of inspired jams, and you can here it hear in the expansive jam transition to Supplication. Charlie Miller's version does it for me... so strap on the headphones and set yourself up for a stunner.