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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
Turn On Your Love Light
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

This is The Dead at peak performance level. Cataclysmic version. Everyone is ON. Explorative and not a beat missed. Easily top 5 of 69.
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.

Comments

Dark Star
Nov. 8, 1970
Capitol Theater

Absolutely cosmic jam before the first verse. So incredibly pretty, this feels very precise yet so free. Complete control of the form. The space gets deep QUICK. Hold on as we go into spaces filled with anti matter. “This is serious!” Says Bobby, which he certainly means. The band quickly start/ emulating the sounds of a UFO. Aliens interacting with this big blue ball. 4th dimensional jamming takes place as the echoes of something that once was attacks the mind. Soundscapes of extraterrestrial beings and landscapes ensue. The Necronomicon in musical form. Lots of magik in this one. The Main 10 ensues, putting anyone who listens under The Warlocks demonic spell. Dark and one of the best.
Dark Star
Sept. 19, 1970
Fillmore East

Truly as dark as they come. Jerry is full of intent right from the get go. A deep dive into silent reflection and quiet flashes of tranquility. What emerges is something that should not be. This feedback section still shakes me to my core. An electronic astral projection takes forth as a cacophony of sound summons an ancient demon right on stage. Afterwards we have serenity and peace. Brilliantly jammed out. Taken to the outer reaches of the cosmos towards the event horizon, eventually hurling towards the unknown. Top 5 for me. One of the best of all time no doubt. Rest in peace Jimi Hendrix.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Captures a nostalgic energy that not many Eyes are able to do in my opinion. A tornado of magik and wonder. The boys dance down yellow brick brick road in the land of Oz exploring and charting new landscapes. Love this version.
Dark Star
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

They’re all 10 steps ahead of each other. They just knew exactly where they were going to go, how they got there, was determined at that moment. Beautiful spontaneous space travel that takes you through it all. Celestial.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

What a stunner. I can take or leave a Feelin’ Groovy Jam between a China Rider as I find that a lot of these early versions without it feel so incredibly free. Jerry is an absolute madman on this. Beautiful melodic lead playing and beautiful psychic instinct from the band the entire jam. A favorite for sure.