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

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.

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.

Haunting organ playing. Crystalline and psychedelic early version that feels very spacey. Great vocal delivery.

Very nice solo from Jerry. Phil is all over this as well, some great melodic bass playing that compliments the song very well.

So much heart!!! As wonderful and exploratory as this song becomes, I always love it when the band play this song before it becomes the absolute juggernaut it’s known to be. I feel like the essence of the song is at its purest form during the early months of 72. That being said, this one is quite regal and grand. Tip toeing around and allowing themselves to get lost in the void. Jerry is sharp, shooting cosmic rays at the listener and making his guitar cry out. The interplay is quite refined and you can hear just how intently everyone is listening to one another, especially with Phil, he seems to dance with Bobby here which allows Keith and Billy to lay a foundation for Jerry to build, build and build.

This swings hard. This is right up there with the Olympia version for me. Lots of phenomenal dynamic buildup. Billy dances so elegantly, creating these bursts of energy and then taking the rest of the band by the hand and guiding them into nirvana. Garcia’s makes his guitar talk during the second solo of China Cat, and the interplay between him and Billy is truly wonderful. A tango. The Rider is absolutely full of wonderfully creative interplay, listen for yourself and see what you can find!

Not super refined, but if you want to hear a really hot Big River with Jerry on vocals, this is the one. This used to be my favorite for a long time, it’s got such a groove and you could tell the band was really liking the direction of where this particular song was going to. Would’ve been cool to hear Jerry take the lead on this more.

Post Hiatus Dire Wolves get all the love, but there is something so endearing about this particular performance. A true electric folk performance. The vocals are perfect, the passion is there, and it’s just so endearing. This might just be me but this the best Dire Wolf I’ve ever heard, and it’s not for the solos, it’s just for how brilliantly performed this was. No showing off, just a band conveying a story. Really just a wonderful and magnificent version.

One of those rare moments of pure genius that make The Dead who they are. Like everyone who’s listened to this, how I wish we got more of this perfect pairing but then again, would it make it as special? I actually find the HCS a little clunky and much prefer the fall versions, then again I’ll cut it some slack since this song was still in its infancy, but the genius is in the transition both into China Cat, and into Rider. They caught on to this flow so nicely and allowed themselves to be carried away into this stream which carries the band into a waterfall of infinite ideas and possibilities which ultimately ends up cultivating into one of the most beautiful jams they have every done in my opinion. The space between China Cat and Rider has that triumphant climax twice which adds to how truly special this version is. Also 20 votes? Really shocked to see this so low and not as well known. Really worth the listen.