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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48135


Submissions

3
Sugaree
Nov. 14, 1972
Oklahoma City Music Hall

So smooth, so warm. 2nd song in the show, and they sound like its late 2nd set. Gem of a show, gem of a song.
1
Brown Eyed Women
Nov. 13, 1972
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

The Bear tape is a bit over-saturated, but the band is just killing it from all corners. Don't pass this one up out of aud-o-phobia.
3
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Nov. 13, 1972
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Look for the Bear recording, which is the proper speed: You'll find a killer version with an explosive transition than just soars.
1
Loser
Nov. 13, 1972
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Jerry's diamond hard-edged tone slices and slashes achingly, hauntingly, and clear desperado mode.
5
Bird Song
Nov. 12, 1972
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

Just Jerry, Phil, and Bobby are audible in this weird tape - but what a study of their communication. Worth a listen for that alone.

Comments

Wharf Rat
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Gets my vote for best of the year, but I also think it hard to say just where comes back into the Playin' space during the deep jam... They're so far out of the WR structure and into the wild outer spheres before coming back into the recognisable reprise. Not too often that Wharf Rat dips into Dark Star territory, but this is something special.
Playin' In The Band
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Brings the expansive length and transitive madness of the most epic pre-hiatus versions if you take it as part of the whole suite. I don't say 'under-rated' often, but it fits here.
Deep Elem Blues
May 7, 1981
Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Synder

Here it is with great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chADQBmosEQ. It's quite cool to see this era with a decent/professional camerawork: Nice in-focus closeups of the band, Jerry singing beautifully and his fretwork. A beaut of a version any way you look at it.
Dire Wolf
May 7, 1981
Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Synder

What a rare treat. Sweet video of the performance on the "Tomorrow Show": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chADQBmosEQ.
Estimated Prophet
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Agree with Ernie5 - this is right in the sweet spot for the development of the song. Jerry's coda solo is a wild ride through the scrambled madness of the narrator. Bobby's voice in the C.Miller clean-up (I didn't get the box set!) is smoky and beautiful. For me this song has always been *the* emblem of '77 perfection and here it is on display.