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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

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Submissions

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.
1
Mexicali Blues
May 25, 1974
Campus Stadium, UCSB

“It’s polka time!” Shouts Bobby at the beginning of this one! Honored to submit this one. Absolute rager from an underrated show.
2
Candyman
Nov. 13, 1972
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Passionate and poignant. Fantastic Fall 72 version.
1
Black Peter
Oct. 18, 1980
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Stunning organ parts that take the song to a different level. Feels like I'm going down a lazy river without a care in the world.
1
Weather Report Suite
Sept. 24, 1973
Civic Arena

Horns!! Let it Grow is already on here but the Whole suite needs love. When the horns come in you can't help but smile. Pure and beautiful.

Comments

Big River
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Just plain fun. As a show opener, this sets the tone for the entire show quite nicely. Big River is one of my favorite tunes that they do and when they get it right, it's an utterly brilliant showcase of the bands musicianship. We also get THREE Jerry solo's that comes crashing in like a riptide. Jangly, rockin', and loose. Everything a Big River should be.
Me and My Uncle
May 3, 1972
Olympia Theater

Gun slinging Jerry is my favorite Jerry. Phil also happens to be all over this one, adding the perfect backdrop for when they enter the barroom and order drinks for all. Jerry is a truly deadly picker on this one, with each lick you can hear gunshots ricochet past your head. Will never get enough of this version. Bright and full of pure energy.
Beat it on Down The Line
April 26, 1971
Fillmore East

Duane and the Dead. Cannot get better than this. Duane soars like an eagle, showing the true definition of a trailblazer. He plays through the changes with such vigor and confidence, especially when they hit the turnaround, Duane knew exactly where to take the music. Hadn’t listened to this one in a while and it really makes me happy hearing Duane so clearly on this. Awesome, awesome version with infectious energy.
Truckin'
Sept. 28, 1975
Lindley Meadows, Golden Gate Park

Gets into some serious The Eleven territory but never quite reaching the actual melody, but it does leave a lot to the imagination. You can hear the hard hitting beat being laid down by the rhythm devils that make The Eleven so special. A post hiatus Eleven certainly could’ve been possible especially since St Stephen got repurposed. It would’ve gone cosmic and spacey, wouldn’t have happened often due to the intricacy of the tune, but that’s why we have Help>Slip. But enough of the “what ifs” it’s fun to theorize but at the end of the day, we have an absolutely transcendent Truckin jam that goes into a rhythmic frenzy. Awesome version with Jerry once again showing how incredible of a musician he is to play on top of and lead this swirling jam.
Space
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

This is what I imagine entering through a black hole must feel/sound like. Soundwaves of pure destruction and a total annihilation of any and all senses. Very extraterrestrial in nature. Antimatter music. Jerry plays his own devil's trill sonata at the end, attempting to play what the devil showed him in his dream. The transition into Playin' is the stuff of LEGENDS.