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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49677


Submissions

3
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Joyful chaos: A brilliant splatter. Bobby's voice never sounded so good to me as it did in '71.
5
Mister Charlie
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Pigpen at his best with the band at its grit-in-the-gears crunchiest. They were on this night and this one is just full of butt.
6
Wharf Rat
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

Very passionate version, some distortion or tape speed issues (?) remind me of my cassette trading days and bring out the trippiness to the song.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

If this hard grooving China jam and Feeling Groovy transition doesn't just get you moving, then nothing can. Just perfect.
10
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

First version ever is real nice... but listen to the soundcheck version for insight into the bands working dynamics. Cool to hear them working on it.

Comments

Row Jimmy
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Smooth and mysterious, with lots of great slide and rhodes soloing. I always find a special trippiness to this song: Not gangbusters psychedelia, but an aqueous otherworldliness that this version captures nicely.
Smokestack Lightnin'
March 18, 1967
Winterland Arena

Brilliant and perfect Pig on this one. Apparently they opened for Chuck Berry, then played a second set after him. Any heads out there know what he thought of them and their take on his music?
Alligator
Sept. 3, 1967
Dance Hall

Unrelenting hurricane. A strong dose.
Viola Lee Blues
Sept. 3, 1967
Dance Hall

Easy to overlook the '67 Dead with so many great years after. Don't make such an error, cause they're just bursting with power. Real mind-blowing work on this VLB. Enjoy.
Bird Song
Nov. 17, 1972
Century II Convention Hall

More love needed for this sweet beauty. Elegant yet powerful - a real treat. I often wonder why such a beautiful song with obvious jam potential was mothballed for so long during some peak years. Any ideas?