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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

8
St. Stephen
Feb. 4, 1970
Family Dog at the Great Highway

Very cool NFA sandwich. It works well this way.
4
Dire Wolf
Feb. 1, 1970
The Warehouse

Starts with the chorus instead of the verse and a funny banter intro. Sweet version.
5
Katie Mae
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

As deep and simple a beautiful blues as they ever did. Pig's got the spirit of the Delta here alright. What a treat.
6
I've Been All Around This World
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

Simply gorgeous.
5
Little Sadie
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

Upvote for all Little Sadies, of course, but this one is special. Subtle, understated, and delicate: Jerry is barely whispering the lyrics. Beautiful.
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Comments

Cosmic Charlie
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

One of the best I know: They're having a blast. The growling grinding combination of Jerry and the keys (Pigpen? TC? both?) gives it an energetic tight swinging sound during the verses, and an unexpected almost punk-rock blown-amp sounding bridge to the "calling you" section. Cosmic Charlie is so legendary and mythic: People held banners at shows with the number of days past since it was last performed and annual set-lists would say Cosmic Charlie: 0 with a sad-face next to it. Hear it here in a uniquely tight and fun version.
Dark Star
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

TC is too high in the mix, but so what? In most recordings of the era it's almost impossible to hear any indication of what he brought, so this is an interesting document if nothing else. It's also musically a whirligig of fun, even if a bit scattered in places. Deduct points for the mix if you must.
Turn On Your Love Light
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

The stoned moron arhythmically yelling 'whoo whoooo' at the beginning and "Grateful Dead!!! Grateful Dead!!!" towards the end bring me right back to my tour days. ;-)
Dark Star
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Fans of the Live Dead-era should really know this one. Sonically it shares a lot with the more famous ones of the era, but its flow is just as perfect and the ideas and clear telepathy between Jerry and Bobby throughout is gorgeous. There may be a bit of a tuning or tape-speed wobble in places, but the C.Miller cleanup is pristine.
New Potato Caboose
Aug. 24, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Jerry's solo can ignite paper at 1000 yards too. I mean Phil gets a lot of deserving love here, but I just gotta add that bit about the guitarist.
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