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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

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Submissions

2
Dire Wolf
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Nice early electric version. Always preferred this key for Dire Wolf compared to when they changed it in the later years. Just right. Nice version.
1
Next Time You See Me
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Takes you right to Chicago. Jerry’s playing emulates the blues greats. Hard rocking version that reminds me of a Junior Wells cut. Highly recommend.
1
High Time
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Haunting organ playing. Crystalline and psychedelic early version that feels very spacey. Great vocal delivery.
1
Me and My Uncle
May 25, 1974
Campus Stadium, UCSB

Very nice solo from Jerry. Phil is all over this as well, some great melodic bass playing that compliments the song very well.
3
Jack Straw
May 25, 1974
Campus Stadium, UCSB

These early 70s Jack Straws have so much Charm. Silky smooth rendition full of grace and wonderful joyous interplay. Surprised this isn’t here yet.

Comments

Playin' In The Band
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

An intergalactic overdrive of spiraling tonal spaces. This powerful and jazzy version encapsulates what the band is really capable when they're really on. A top 5 version for me, this short and sweet Playin' wastes no time and gets straight to the point. Shades of Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders all over this one. Everyone is in top form, not a note wasted, and a genuine virtuosic showcase of the bands abilities. So good.
Turn On Your Love Light
Aug. 5, 1967
O'Keefe Center

Acid rock at its absolute finest. Jerry's phrasing is so full of energy and particularly bluesy. Pigpen sounds absolutely incredible and his control and power as a band leader is very apparent here. I Highly recommend this one. The boys are psychedelic warriors on this one.
Morning Dew
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium

This is literally just the opener, passionate version that calls back to when they used to open up shows in the 60s with Morning Dew. So good.
Dark Star
Dec. 11, 1972
Winterland Arena

Had to comment again, my last comment did not do this psychedelic king of kings justice. Interstellar overdrive is standard of this elegant and alchemical performance. A trip on a lysergic spaceship aptly named the Grateful Dead, this performance channels a lot of archetypal imagery, a dive into the collective unconscious and a royal and grand version. Jerry puts on a clinic with Keith delivering some beautiful responses to this debate between wizards. Lots of cool rhythmic ideas, a whopping 17 minutes before the first verse, and after is some of the most intense, shadowy meltdowns in the dead’s history. A wailing of existential pain ensues which follows with some absolutely morbid feedback work which melts everyone down to every last molecule. A deep darkness, almost arachnid like as this section conjures up imagines of spiders and the weaving of neon colored webs. Billy K comes in with an earth shattering drum solo that takes you deep into hell and never stops until you reach complete nothingness. A jam reminiscent of The Miles Davis electric band ensues which flips your brain and chops it into pieces and completely rearranges it. Top 5 for me. A truly long, and strange trip.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Dec. 11, 1972
Winterland Arena

12 minutes of pure bliss. Stupidly good Half Step, you can hear the synthesis for so many great versions later to come right in this version, stunning melodic improvisation that will later become a staple for the song. They’re ON