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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

Let It Grow
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Powerful, forceful, fast, and precise. This is the type of LIG that I would just go nuts for as a young head. This one is just rip-roaring from word go, has a blistering drum solo a greased lightning re-entry before smoothing the way for cool jam into Cosmic Charlie. This kind of "under the radar" jam is perfect for the era: LiG>CosmicC then SS>NFA>SS? How often did they play that combination?
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

One of the best from June '76.
Big River
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Takes a lot to get me to vote for a Big River, but you've got to hear Keith and Jerry's double solos here. Just perfect.
The Music Never Stopped
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Slightly mellower tempo than some of the wild barn-burners of the time, but this lends itself to a sharp and spiffy show opener with a beautiful swimming interlude vocal (Donna haters notwithstanding) and great crowd pleasing starter. Summer '76 was some brilliant peak Dead, rolling out their next act. Don't skip this one.
Playin' In The Band
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

How the Dead can be simultaneously so understated and mellow, yet so tweakingly far out and experimental is one the musical mysteries. This is just wild stuff - it has all the electric-Miles feel mentioned above, but it has that unmistakable high-speed, low-altitude cruising. Around minute 18, after the short proto-FTM jam, Jerry just takes off and skims the treetops. Freeform beauty ensues as they move towards The Wheel.