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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

4
Long Black Limousine
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

Showcases their versatility: Switched mid-way through an electric set into this moody beauty after Phil's amp blew out. Gorgeous.
3
Hard to Handle
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

More like the great '71s than the others from 1970. A hard enough rocker that it apparently nuked Phil's amp, leading to a wonderful acoustic set.
10
Dire Wolf
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

Introduced as a "paranoid fantasy song", but oh so sweet for all that. Perfect rendition.
13
Not Fade Away
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

Part of an epic jam, plus an enormous China Cat tease at 10:45 in a 5-year spell without them. Very interesting groove, too.
7
Mason's Children
Jan. 31, 1970
The Warehouse

For anyone with a soft spot for psychedelic bubblegum, the jam the shit out of this one. Ruff cut in the middle though.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias
June 3, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Revisiting after a long spell, and this is as pure as they come. No FoTM, but natch, it wasn't written yet. What a beauty.
Cassidy
June 3, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Years later and back for another dose of this historic show. Sure, there's some rough patches, but can you imagine being there as a head, waiting out the hiatus and they bust out with new repertoire including Cassidy? This is some of Barlow's greatest writing for the band, and I've always considered this one of the most philosophical songs in their oeuvre deceptively simple, but "scattered like lost words" speaks beauty, and "I can tell by the mark he left you were in his dream" is mysterious dark poetry of the highest order. This might not be the tightest version ever, but it's definitely one of the most satisfying - at least for me.
Sugar Magnolia
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Totally bonkers. Really, like zonkers bonkers: It's more uptempo - maybe our boys took their vitamins during the break - and Crosby's addition gives it an almost orchestral quality. Really a beauty.
The Other One
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Goes deep weird. (I love that.) But it also has a floaty ethereal passage before heading into Morning Dew that is just sublime. Phil and Billy's Drum and Bass solo is brilliant. Did they freakin' invent the genre? They did a similar solo on the 12th of the same month which is worth a listen, too.
Truckin'
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Scorching hot jam, with a great radio broadcast version on the Archive with a perfectly balanced soundboard. Everyone is audible, and they're deep in the pocket, plus Jerry is just inspiration on wheels. Truckin' when it's hot is unbeatable, and this one kicks off over an hour-long sweet sweet suite.
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