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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48136


Submissions

10
Big Railroad Blues
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Utterly gobsmacked that this ain't here yet: It's a furious barnburner. Full of get up and go.
15
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

A more rocking version than others from the time, and oddly overlooked. Jumps off Cat right away into the long transition. Energetic stuff here.
13
Black Throated Wind
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Is there a single one from '72 that doesn't end in triumph? This song just got better and better throughout Europe. Surprised this wasn't here yet.
11
Sugar Magnolia
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Perfect musical sunshine. This one even got my not-at-all-into-the-Dead wife to dance around like a trippin' hippy, so you know it's good.
13
Truckin'
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Unforgivable that you guys overlook Truckin'. There's a reason it's the one song non-heads know. This one is a forgotten colossus. Listen up.

Comments

New Potato Caboose
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

While I love this and am happy to have the Download series, I feel like it lacks the crackling high-voltage danger that many of the recordings from the era have. This isn't about their performance, which is f'n brilliant, but the compressed sound. I'm guessing that they had to compromise on crispness to get a better balance in the mix. Still, it's '68 Dead and I love it.
Turn On Your Love Light
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

The Download series has a warm but muted sound quality that makes this both hot and cool at the same time. This version doesn't have the wild Pig life-coaching that came later, but does have that brilliant '68 ensemble jamming that blows your hair back and steals your face, leaving nothing but perma-grin.
Turn On Your Love Light
March 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

The Download series has a warm but muted sound quality that makes this both hot and cool at the same time. This version doesn't have the wild Pig life-coaching that came later, but does have that brilliant '68 ensemble jamming that blows your hair back and steals your face, leaving nothing but perma-grin.
Mama Tried
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Everyone loves the Swing, but don't skip the Mama!
Estimated Prophet
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

What a brain-sizzler. Jerry's 20-second solo around 3:30 just ignites the air into a pillar of fire. His tone is of ferocious arch-angelic madness, just like the song sez, eh? What an intro for this quirky off-kilter song for a crowd also treated to 1st-time Terrapin.