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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

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Submissions

1
Ship of Fools
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

1974 and Ship of Fools go together like peanut butter and jelly. Full of emotion. They're really giving their all in this.
1
Big River
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Like the breaking of a dam, this just flows at a truly ferocious pace. Jerry is relentless in his playing, the second solo will knock your socks off.
1
It Must Have Been The Roses
May 12, 1974
University of Nevada

Any '74 version of this tune is a treat. Incredibly lovely with great Keith lines. Billy sways.
1
Jack Straw
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Definitive for its time. The soundcheck gave us a preview, here's the full thing. Solid version.
1
Mexicali Blues
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Just a damn near perfect performance. Shocked not to see this one submitted. One of MANY highlights from this show.

Comments

Truckin'
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

Where has this one been hiding? If you read this, check out the absolute abstract and mind shattering jams that follow into Morning Dew. The Nobody's jam is pure nastiness, exploring incredible blues themes with Keith chromatically exploring the keyboard. Exploding gradients of color coming right at you at super sonic speeds before landing gently into utter tranquility. Wow. '72 continues to surprise me.
Box of Rain
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

I usually skip this tune, but this version made me turn my head. The Looks like Rain preceding this creates a beautiful suite of music evoking the calming serenity of rain drops falling from the sky. Beautiful version.
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

A little slower in tempo than others but has a deep locked in groove that’s hard to replicate. A beautiful Yin to Loose Lucy’s Yang, especially switching from Jerry’s Vocals to hearing Bobby’s in the next tune.
Loose Lucy
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

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.
Dark Star
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

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.