Veneta is one of my favorite shows, and I've grown to appreciate this Dark Star as a major jewel in the crown (though I don't think it's necessarily the highlight... PITB, Bird Song and China Rider are all in the running).... but I still find it kind of disappointing that this one tops the list of Dark Stars on Headyversion. On one hand, I'm a 60s Head, so I really dig the melodic ones from then, but even as far as the jazzier, complex Stars go, I do still think 9/21/72 and 11/11/73 are a lot better! But hey, like someone said, there is no best Dark Star.

BeggarsTomb - I do want to come to the defense of 36 From the Vault. I think it's a great podcast by two guys who, despite your comments about them being from the rock press and not in unanimous approval of everything the Dead does - genuinely love and respect the band and their journey. They come from different places on it - Rob is a Phish fan and far more of a pre-hiatus Head, whereas Steve is a 70s/80s/90s appreciator, but they make a genuine effort to understand the Dead in context. If you haven't listened to more episodes beyond the first 6, I would highly recommend giving them another chance.

Absolutely love this show, and this is a lovely version, but kind of crazy this is above so many 73 - 74 versions that transcend my soul.

P.S. Sorry, I just get really annoyed at all the Deadheads who say the equivalent of "I don't understand this, therefore it is bad." Jerry & co had their flaws, but musically they always knew what they were doing and I trust that.

Every time there's an epic jam like this that devolves into an extended sequence of inspired, organic noise, someone on this site comes out of the woodwork to say "I HATE THIS VERSION!!" Like, they not only don't care for it, they must devote a small essay as to why the piece is worthless and a crime against humanity. One such commenter is above, and another can be found up this page on the beautiful 12/2/73 version. If this is you, let me be clear: Grateful Dead was a noise band. They started life by playing electric blues with long sequences of feedback, noise and discord. They were proto-punk and as many have noted, inspired Sonic Youth in their noisy guitar explorations. They left a lot of that behind in the 70s, but when they found occasion to revisit it it was always inspired, and a natural callback to their days of breaking the rules... all of which they fully understood as musicians. This is one of the best Playins ever. I'm sorry if your definition of music means that it has to be completely, conventionally melodic all the time. If that's how you feel, this really isn't the band for you, or at least only a surgically altered portion of their catalog is. Noise is beautiful, and this is one of the best noisy jams I've ever heard. In fact, there's a ton of musical form to it. Oh, and get over Donna screaming. She's the GOAT too and deserves respect, even in those moments when the Wall of Sound was drowning out her hearing.