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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

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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

Hard to Handle
April 26, 1971
Fillmore East

Wonderfully tasty playing from Jerry during the verses. Bobby man, what an utterly unique player. To quote the late great Muhammed Ali, floats like a butterfly, and stings like a bee. Bobby had some of the coolest guitar parts in the early 70s, especially when he gets some distortion on his playing he completely tears the stage apart. Check out 9/19/70 for some amazing Bobby parts. This is a heavyweight version of Hard to Handle and it's up there with the very best versions. It flows quite nicely into some really great grooves.
Cryptical Envelopment
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Ragnaroar makes a wonderful point. I really wish they kept this, while sloppy, this sounds really good to my ears and I love that there is at least one version from this era we can hold onto. Beautiful introduction into The Other One with a brutal drum segment.
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Like a pail of cool water being dunked on your head after a long trek in the desert. This is just plain gorgeous.
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

A never ending fountain of ideas with magic spurting out every second. Around the 7 minute mark we get into some very dangerous territory, yet the band is so comfortable traversing these spaces. Keith in 72 expressed himself to his highest ability, there isn't a 72 show where I don't hear him creating some of the most beautiful moments of music the band has ever produced. I think it also freed Jerry too because throughout this year he feels so much more relaxed and dances around the music rather than leading it most of the time. It allows Jerry to take his time and explore these new spaces that were opened up to him. This is an awesome version that never lets up. These 2 shows(this and the night after)really are a highlight in the fall run, which is saying a lot.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Let Keith cook! Man, you can hear the gradual build up of energy in this one. If they took acid, this is 100% the come up. The transition could last forever and I wouldn't mind, you can tell the band is riding that train letting inspiration find them on their tumultuous journey. The solos on Rider are really emotional, and the vocals are really just right on this. The night before gets all the love but this really deserves some attention too.