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find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

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Submissions

1
Drums
Dec. 10, 1972
Winterland Arena

Supercharged Billy at the helm deconstructing and building layers of structure like a master architect. Some of his most inventive fills put to record
1
Me and My Uncle
July 16, 1972
Dillon Stadium

Notable for coming straight out of Cumberland and the alternate lyrics “And I Grabbed the Bottle, Grabbed Him in the Jaw” A cowboy classic.
1
Promised Land
Aug. 5, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Arena

Firing on all cylinders right out the gate. I'm certain Jerry's fretboard caught fire after that first solo. Impossible not to groove to.
1
El Paso
Dec. 4, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Delicate. Like a last waltz of the cowboy and his love, with each lick from Jerry conveying the urgency of the story. Keith makes such an impact here.
1
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 4, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Part of the beginning is cut off, but that doesn't stop this train from rolling on down the mines. Short and sweet.

Comments

Candyman
May 28, 1977
Hartford Civic Center

Still one of my favorites. A walk through an open field with the stars all dancing up above, this one is a keeper. Beautiful version.
Dark Star
Dec. 15, 1972
Long Beach Arena

Truly one of my favorite jams. As the users above stated, an inverted Dark Star that explores dark and mysterious dimensions. Really the meat and potatoes of this is the Jam between, which features some of the most intriguing and transcendent lines from Jerry. A spiritual epiphany, jams like this couldn’t be replicated outside of 1972, His playing guides you towards something greater than ourselves and leads to some jazzy, psychically interlocked musical conversations. Whimsical and full of life. This one takes you on a real journey, check out Billy and Keith feeding rhythmic ideas to each other, adventurous and a virtuosic performance. Start from Truckin’ to really get the full experience. Such a phenomenal sequence of music and which eventually transforms into Morning Dew. Beautiful and brilliant subtle use of feedback on this, the meltdown after the first verse is cathartic and raw. Keith dissects and rips open a worm hole which the band gets swallowed into, and spirals. Cannot recommend this enough. Why the dead are the best.
Not Fade Away
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Revisiting Cornell lately, and I forgot how awesome this version is. I love the earlier versions and sometimes the later era versions of NFA can make me cringe, but this one is just a spiraling bluesy showcase of what the band can do. Top tier version.
Turn On Your Love Light
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Seriously do not pass this one up. I do not know how this one got overlooked. Psychedelic terror of a Lovelight. Creative organ lines and inventive utilization of everyone's instruments from everything from whale calls to a train rolling down the track. Pigpen shows why he's the man. Incredible version that might be my new favorite, for now... Listen to Phil closely on this as well. You will not regret this. Take 30 minutes out of your day and let that love shine on you.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Might be my new favorite early version. Infectious grooves that make this fun, and will force you to dance or at least sway back and forth. Jerry is like a snake charmer in this. Coming out of a hot Cryptical reprise, you really can’t go wrong with this one. The jam before Rider is so incredibly unique as well, a sneak peek to what’s to come later in the years. Nice organ work as well, just a stunningly played early version of this iconic pairing.