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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

1
Playin' In The Band
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

This is a weird one. At times it seems like they forgot it was PiTB and went back to the HSF jam. Fun, but waaaaaaaaay loose.
1
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Short, sweet, brand new, and flawless.
1
Friend of the Devil
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Brilliant early "slow version". I always prefered the desperado fast-paced ones, but this turns into a brilliant exploration and improv vehicle.
3
Uncle John's Band
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Uptempo, powerful, strong vocals. This is top shelf UJB. With David Crosby for that extra oomph, and with a tigh outro, it's strangely not here yet.
4
Jack Straw
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Like every other song in the first set, this is just pristine, air-play level perfection. Beautiful fills by Keith here, too.

Comments

Deal
April 1, 1995
Pyramid Arena

cgarces, I agree that late-period Deals achieve different peaks from the earlier ones, and that unlike other songs, a mid-90s Deal doesn't just make me sad and alienated, but I can't agree that the top 70s versions are lacking anything by their own definition. Try 22.02.73 for a somewhat under the radar version. Plenty from '72 too. That said, I think my absolute favorite is from 7.19.1989, which even the most die-hard 70s fanatic has to admit kicks ass in all directions.
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

Keeps ratcheting up for the first ten minutes until you can actually feel yourself being pushed back in your chair and having your mind blown, then settles in and stretches out that ride for ten more.
Bird Song
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

Great catch. A real understated beauty. It flies by on technicolor wind.
Here Comes Sunshine
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

Jerry decides to go ahead and play every single note about 10 minutes in.
Dark Star
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

'Is Philo stomp' a thing? It sure should be. This is a great and under appreciated Dark Star. I wouldn't call it cluttered, but it does go through several changes, and has that joy-exploding Phil-led jam in it. The whole show is riddled with cuts though, not just the PITB. Hmm, I'm greedy mad jealous of my Grateful Dead, so on some esoteric plane this show is still being played, and we can hear it in all it's Dead glory, perfectly mixed, and I'm there with all of you. Man, Dark Star: it brings it on.