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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49742


Submissions

25
Black Peter
Jan. 2, 1970
Fillmore East (Late Show)

Low key and smooth - a real treat. Show is known for its great DS>SS>11, but give this a listen. Nice.
2
Hurts Me Too
Jan. 22, 1971
Lane Community College

Despite the lo-fi tape, this has got to be some of the deepest blues they ever played. Don't let the murky recording turn you off - it's worth it.
7
Hard to Handle
April 17, 1971
Dillon Gym

Cruising along with 3rd° swagger when it suddently hits high gear and <BOOM!>, you become the Pig, and it feels good.
3
Truckin'
April 17, 1971
Dillon Gym

Openers this good let you know exactly how amazing the show will be. 17.04 isn't just the best Good Lovin' of all time but an all round killer show.
14
Big Railroad Blues
April 5, 1971
Manhattan Center

Simply the best one I know. Energetic uptempo rockin' and rollin' with a hard driving bass player named PHIL!

Comments

El Paso
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Love the slower tempo and swing vibe to it - and the fact that it comes out of a beaut of a Dark Star.
Dark Star
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

To my ears this one drifts a bit before really, deeply coming together somewhere after minute ten or so. Then they rip out its guts, and by 16:30 it's just a beast of a journey. Phil's veto mentioned above is classic turn-on-a-dime Dead for the ages. They weren't hinting that Dew was coming, they'd already started playing it, but I love how they just pick up the hint and go furthur and furthur. Listening again, and I'm pretty sure the exchange with Phil was a negotiation: Into Dew? Nah. YEAH, into Dew. Nope nope nope. How about El Paso? El Paso, gee, why not!
Stella Blue
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Short version with condensed, purposeful feel to it.
Playin' In The Band
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

The period between Europe and Veneta is worth a study all on its own - so many songs get re-tooled and end up with something new to them. This Playin' condenses so much musical power and innovation into coherent dense material. 15 minutes! Within a couple of months that would seem like an afterthought for Playin', but here you can grok just how far they were preparing to let it go.
Me and My Uncle
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Even the MAMU on this show stands out and kicks ass. This Berkeley run is, of course, well known for its wall-to-wall highlights. Even so, the high praise is well deserved.