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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48135


Submissions

5
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Brilliant, crisp ideas and tight ensemble playing on a warm Bear AUD. Just exactly perfect.
2
Brown Eyed Women
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

One of those note-for-note perfect versions that leave you staggered and smiling. Just beautiful.
2
Sugaree
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Not a song I usually get so swept up by, but on this one Jer's vocals are just perfect, capturing the sweetness and sorrow of the lyrics. A beaut.
4
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

High-powered and tight. This show has nothing but complaints about the mix on the archive. Listen to the Ashley transfer, and see what you've missed.
2
Tomorrow Is Forever
Oct. 27, 1972
Veterans' Memorial Hall

Such sweet harmony, such sweet sentiment - turning on a dime after the white-hot Dew. Shows the beautiful country chops Donna at her best brought.

Comments

The Eleven
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

This has to be one of the most up-tempo versions they ever played, and they skipped the lyrics, but so what. (Sounds like they're looking to drop them in around minute four, but they hit the kick into the blues groove instead). Keeping 11/8 groove going like this is no mean feat, they just slay it every which way. Powerful stuff from '69.
St. Stephen
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

Moves along nicely until they find the turbo button and it then it gets shot out of the cannon and gears up brilliantly for the last verse and WTO>11.
Mountains of the Moon
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

Beautiful, subtle, great mix cleanup on the box set version. Phil's steady pulse underscores Tom's gentle keys, and Jerry sings like an angel. It really doesn't get better than this according to this old Carrion Crow.
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

The banter alone is worth an upvote, with Bill Graham is gifted a cowbell and inducted into the band.... Then the late show starts with this sweet, simple version. That's presumably TC on the steam calliope and who but the Dead would even try such a thing?!?
Dark Star
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

Back here for more. It's really that good. After nearly 40 minutes of creating whole cosmos out of the air it almost sounds like they might land back into Playin' then maybe back into Dark Star melody for the second chorus, then into that beautiful Wharf Rat. Like a spinning twenty-sided die it could have landed anywhere, perfectly. G'damn, but this one deserves its spot on the front page.