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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49622


Submissions

15
Mister Charlie
Aug. 7, 1971
Golden Hall

Jerry leans into it with a jaw-tighteningly crisp and high-voltage tone for a killer solo, though the group is a bit loose. Pigpen sounds amazing.
6
Rosalie McFall
Sept. 26, 1980
Warfield Theater

Absolute goodness. These shows are all so beautiful, the playing is all virtuoso, and the feeling is so positive. Brent here is especially perfect.
2
Dark Hollow
Sept. 26, 1980
Warfield Theater

Perfect. Bobby's silky voice, Gerry's understated but perfect picking, and Brent's barrelhouse honkytonk all on proud display.
1
The Other One
Sept. 23, 1976
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Poor sound quality midway through, but its the first '76 set since the hiatus that goes off-the-rails weird, evoking the Wall of Sound era. Hot stuff.
2
Samson and Delilah
Sept. 23, 1976
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Bobby tears it up, not just vocally, but through brilliant guitar work
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Comments

Deal
Oct. 30, 1973
Kiel Auditorium

Billy's soft-shoe shuffle is just spot on for this ultra-mellow version and he turns the barnburner we all know and love into a sweetly swinging Western foxtrot. Keith switches from the Hammond back to the old saloon pee-ann-er and rolls and trembles like he was born playing it in a spaghetti-bordello. They all play as one, and sound like they're all in on some sly joke. Lovely and distinct version.
Samson and Delilah
May 1, 1977
The Palladium

There isn't a bad one in the whole of '77 if you're asking me. This has the added oomph and charismatic strut of gospel rock at its best, with the snarling lion and building-crushing strength from right out of the lyrics. Makes you wonder just what those boys were up to during the 'Sunrise' right before it...?
Sunrise
May 1, 1977
The Palladium

Amazing what she could do when she could hear herself over the monitors. For a song so largely hated by so many, they play the ever-loving shit out of it here and Donna is very powerful. Any other band and this might have been their anthemic prog-rock hit.
Brokedown Palace
Dec. 1, 1973
Music Hall

To EinarM: The 12.01 show just has the one disadvantage of appearing between two towering colossuses, so 11.30 and 12.02 get all the love. the 2nd stands on its own with the best shows of the year - and that's a damned good list - but it's a shame that it's so less well known than it's two neighbors. Listening to this Brokedown is all the proof you'd need.... What bliss.
Big River
Dec. 1, 1973
Music Hall

Hot fun. This one is starts to simmer, starts to bubble, then starts to roll. Jerry and Keith playing off each other is amazing, and when Jer turns the beat around, then turns it back around again it just boils right over the edge.
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