Jerry and Bobby create a beautiful space before TOO. A conversation in strings. Billy and Mickey create primal, carnivorous music. Hunting music.

What a crown jewel Pretty Peggy O can be. A truly tender version that washes away all my worries. These 74 versions are quite special.

The Dead take the Parisians through a cowboys surrealist day dream. Check out how both Keith and Jerry are utterly locked into the music.

Blossoms and blooms like a shining red rose. I really love the energy for this show.

1974 and Ship of Fools go together like peanut butter and jelly. Full of emotion. They're really giving their all in this.

Incredibly energy to start off an all timer of a show. I'm more partial towards the funkier 74 version, but this version completely rocks.

Groundbreaking. Innovative. Unlike any other. I think this was exactly what the Dead had been working towards up until this point. The seamless blending of all music encompassed in this piece of modern classical music. A supernova that explodes with such energy, the themes explored in this Dark Star are unlike any other, the jazzy and macabre jamming is ghastly, the band sets the stage aflame in a blue flame. Jerry channels his eastern school of thought in this stream of consciousness performance. Keith completely understands what’s going on, and his ability to add so much depth and nuance make him truly one of a kind. He controls where this music will go. The space after the second verse sees a return to this haunted space, and leads into a climatic point in which Jerry takes the band into the promised land, heaven, the afterlife, green pastures, whatever you want to call it. It’s pureness is infectious and you really do feel your mind leaving your body. One of the best ever. Never gets old.

Divine. A long time staple in my listening rotation. Esoteric in nature, this is one of the best they’ve ever done by a long shot. Jerry channeling Coltrane in his solos, and during the Feelin’ Groovy jam, I even hear shades of Bach as well. As good as it gets in my opinion, and don’t miss Billy at the end of Rider!!! Stunning lysergic church music. 8/5/74, 2/15/73, 5/3/72, and 9/24/72 are all up there in favorites for me, and this is 100% included in there as well.

You know it’s good when Phil is all over the intro. Listen real closely to how his bass interacts with the music, lots of open space with incredible rhythmic motifs to propel the music further. I cannot believe I’m only just now getting around to this show. This is an all timer for sure, it’s fluidity and dynamic range is nothing to scoff at, and as songs, they are performed to their highest potentials. No frills.

Lifts off right away. Has that unexplainable quality that puts you right in that space of music. I feel myself melting with the music, Im sure the boys did too. What a stunner, ferocious and a near flawless rendition. Has a nostalgic quality to it I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s a feeling.