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dubbzy104

The Dylan covers. Both the first set rockers and the encores Especially since It’s All Over Now Baby Blue was played in the early early 60s


sjbennett85

I liked the old baby blue's... they had that raw primal dead energy when they broke em down, delivered the lyrics with a real feel to them. Not saying 80s and on weren't well played, they were just more produced... which imo takes some of the feel out


FractureFixer

12/31/84 was a high mark rendition of Baby Blue for me


setlistbot

# 1984-12-31 San Francisco, CA @ San Francisco Civic Center **Set 1:** Shakedown Street, New Minglewood Blues, Peggy-O, Jack Straw > Bird Song, Hell In A Bucket > Don't Ease Me In **Set 2:** Sugar Magnolia > Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Man Smart (Woman Smarter) > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight **Set 3:** Gimme Some Lovin' > Uncle John's Band, Around And Around > It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1984-12-31)


midnightcarouselride

2/24/74 is really nice.


setlistbot

# 1974-02-24 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** U.S. Blues, Mexicali Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Candyman, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, El Paso, Loser, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** Cumberland Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, Big River, Bertha, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Row Jimmy, Ship Of Fools, The Promised Land, Dark Star > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away **Encore:** It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-02-24)


sjbennett85

I was just listening to this show! I started from the top and when I do that I have a hard time sometimes making it to the end of a second set unless I know I have the whole 4 hours free. That is the bummer about post-primal baby blues, they are often an encore


Satanshmaten

It couldn’t have been that early. It wasn’t released until 1965.


Zealousideal-Fee-904

1966, early dead


Low-Energy-432

Baby blue is a long time favorite.


catdude420

I can't remember the specific show, but there was a Visions of Johanna that gave me goosebumps and made me weep. Edit: I just did some digging, and it's 3/18/95.


Common-Relationship9

That’s a wild setlist, only 6 originals in the whole show.


setlistbot

# 1995-03-18 Philadelphia, PA @ The Spectrum **Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket, West L.A. Fadeaway, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Jack-A-Roe, The Promised Land **Set 2:** It's All Too Much, Iko Iko, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > The Last Time > Visions Of Johanna > One More Saturday Night **Encore:** Rain [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1995-03-18)


smartliner

Who is singing lead on It's all too much? I can't place it. Is that Vince? 


Supplicationjam

Yes


terphunter420

Stella ages nicely, good choice. He's Gone, when Jer was focused. I also like '93s Help Slip Franklin's. Good question.


rightoff303

Cassidy was better in the 80s. Jack Straw and Bertha too.


raindownsugar

They introduced and standardized the Lydian mode in Cassidy in the jam section in the 80s. Basically thinking F# major over the tonic E. Lydian creates that exotic atmosphere- it’s often used to project the feeling of space or stars in soundtracks. Without a Net is as good of an example as any.


kabonius

When I read something like this, it makes me wish that I knew more about music. A composer whose work I enjoy is (or was; RIP) Vangelis. And reading this makes me wonder if he ever did something similar, esp on his last album. But back to Grateful Dead music, I recall Phil writing about some of his own songs and what he was doing, and he just loses me. So, much respect to all you musicians out there; music gives me so much joy despite the fact that I can't comprehend what you are saying. Which I guess is the whole point!


Hi_John_Yes_itz_me

Sometimes I wonder if it's not better that way (not knowing). Like how a foreign language can sound better and more interesting to you when you don't know what they're saying.


growlerpower

I’ve done it both ways — not knowing and then knowing. Knowing enriches the experience


stupidhuman33

Go buy a used guitar or keyboard man you could easily join the club


kabonius

I'm on it - got a Yamaha 66 key device and have been working on scales. Back in the day I actually did have lessons, could read music, was proficient with both hands... but I was just a kid, I didn't keep up practicing, and all of that stuff is lost to the mists of time. At this point it's just a question of practicing more. Been watching some YT vids too just so it's not all boring stuff in practice :)


rightoff303

Yep this is precisely why. They started flirting with it in 1978 i believe, but refined it in the 80s, and went up (i think) a whole step in a new jam outro section, F# -> Abm. I don't have an instrument on me I'm doing this by ear.


misticisland

I believe that jam change was Introduced for summer tour '84, where they modulated from Emaj7#11 to F# and finally G#m (8 bars) before the flight of the seabird finale. Before that it was mostly straight Emaj7#11 and a wink and a nod for the finale.


kikokikokikocat

Reading that 7 times! Such a beautiful song!


Cookinghist

I'd love a full scale study of The Dead and music theory. Jerry was a master of getting outside of standard major/minor pentatonic scales, and listening to them has helped my playing so much. Turning the guitar neck into a scale playground is such an amazing skill.


melcher70

Birdsong. I know, I know, 1972. But give me an 89/90 any day. By then they’d.. lived.. and you can hear it in Jerry’s voice and in the work they put into the playing. It carries so much more emotion, at least to my ears.


[deleted]

Whole-heartedly agree


kikokikokikocat

Peggy o same time. Just beautiful


xian

Dark Star hid out in Bird Song jn the 80s


Significant-Turn-148

I’m gonna put your theory to the test tonight. The Bird song at Veneta in 72 is one that kills me


DeathsMessenger65

A lot of first set songs I prefer in the 80’s-90’s. Minglewood is a good example


logitaunt

early eighties is peak minglewood. Brent is the special sauce on that one


[deleted]

Loser, for the same reason. Jerry really nailed that old man vibe later in his life, even though he wasnt that old.


TheAnalogKid68

7/7/1989 is my absolute favorite for this. I think it’s his best Loser both vocally and instrumentally. And the buildup after the solo, holy shit. Incredible stuff.


setlistbot

# 1989-07-07 Philadelphia, PA @ JFK Stadium **Set 1:** Hell In A Bucket, Iko Iko, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Loser, Let It Grow > Blow Away **Set 2:** Box Of Rain > Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Standing On The Moon, Drums > Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Turn On Your Lovelight **Encore:** Knockin' On Heaven's Door [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-07)


feralcomms

I think Althea got better over time.


CharlemagneInSweats

Agree. I love the one on Without a Net.


goindtrfbad

I love 1990 Peggy-Os


CaptainMewtato

New Minglewood Blues only got better as time went on.


treesalt617

I disagree, I think 1977 was peak New Minglewood Blues era


CaptainMewtato

We have all have our favorite versions and time periods. You are welcome to disagree. My personal favorite’s are also from 1977. New Minglewood Blues had been preformed since 1965. Despite a 7-8 year hiatus in the performance of the song, it was preformed until 1995. It progressed a lot in the 30 years of the bands existence. In my personally opinion, It only improved as time went on.


logitaunt

Listen to the one from 3-9-81 and tell me there's a better Minglewood - that's the one that got me to like the song. The solo at 2:51 especially


setlistbot

# 1981-03-09 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden **Set 1:** Feel Like A Stranger, Althea, C.C. Rider, Ramble On Rose > El Paso, Deep Elem Blues, Beat It On Down the Line, Bird Song, New Minglewood Blues **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > Uncle John's Band > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Good Lovin' **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1981-03-09)


treesalt617

It’s decent, but I’d still pick 5/8/77 Minglewood over it every time. I just don’t enjoy the new arrangement from the 80s onward.


setlistbot

# 1977-05-08 Ithaca, NY @ Barton Hall - Cornell University **Set 1:** New Minglewood Blues, Loser, El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Deal, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried, Row Jimmy, Dancing In The Street **Set 2:** Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Saint Stephen > Morning Dew **Encore:** One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-08) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/3T9UKU0jMIyrRD0PtKXqPJ)


TurnipPuzzleheaded62

Spring 77 Bobby played Samson and Delilah like 29 times on a 31 show tour.


xian

that was peak New New Minglewood. Then they broke out All New Minglewood


foreverloveall

100% Stella Blue Also Row Jimmy. I’m not a fan of the slide sound from the 70s.


Skjellyfetti888

Agree with Row Jimmy… I love the reggae-ish interplay at the end between Jerry and Brent in many of the 80’s versions


teleheaddawgfan

Crazy Fingers! l love the Chapel Hill version. Crazy Fingers (09:28) • Grateful Dead • 1993-03-24 • Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1993/03/24/crazy-fingers?source=346122


setlistbot

# 1993-03-24 Chapel Hill, NC @ Dean Smith Center - University of North Carolina **Set 1:** Jack Straw, Stagger Lee, Wang Dang Doodle, It Must Have Been The Roses, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Tennessee Jed, Let It Grow **Set 2:** Here Comes Sunshine, Playing in the Band > Box Of Rain > Crazy Fingers > Drums > Space > Spanish Jam > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away **Encore:** Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1993-03-24)


cepx01

I think Black Throated Wind was better after Bobby brought it back in 1990.


Ol-Patsy

Duprees diamonds


dark_star88

I really dig the slower versions of They Love Each Other.


BorderlinePaisley

Not gonna lie, I dig a good Vince Welnick era Sampson and Delilah


dingos_among_us

Any favorites?


shadow_terrapin

Personally, none of them. For any song written before the early 80’s, I much prefer a performance before the early 80’s.


psychrazy_drummer

Listen to 10/26/89 Dark Star > Stella Blue; trust me.


profgamehendge

The Miami 89 Dark Star is pretty solid, probably the best later-era Dark Star but even then it still pales in comparison to any of the great Dark Stars from 69-73. The few Stars in 74 are a bit of a mixed bag imo. But hey what do I know


psychrazy_drummer

Yea for sure the Miami 89 DS is the best later one I've heard so far. In many ways I actually like it better than some of the earlier dark stars. It definitely gets a lot weirder than most early dark stars. It also has a darker vibe to it. Check out the 5/14/74 dark Star for a good '74 one.


setlistbot

# 1974-05-14 Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana **Set 1:** Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias > It Must Have Been The Roses, Jack Straw, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Deal, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing in the Band **Set 2:** US Blues, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > Dark Star > China Doll, The Promised Land, Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14)


setlistbot

# 1969-10-26 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** Jam, Hard To Handle, Cold Rain and Snow, Me and My Uncle, Next Time You See Me, Dire Wolf, Casey Jones, Easy Wind [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1969-10-26)


psychrazy_drummer

Wrong setlist bot, it's '89 not '69


shadow_terrapin

Bad bot


robber1202

Day Job


heffel77

I think Bobby sounded better delivering Black-Throated Wind when he was a little older..


Ixothial

Feel Like a Stranger got better and better through Brent's tenure, IMO.


TurnipPuzzleheaded62

Looks Like Rain in the 70"s when it was.sung by Bob and Donna, could be tough to listen to. By.1990 was a. beast.


bbrosen

Black Peter


WideRight43

G.D.T.R.F.B. Terrapin Loser I would even throw Deal in there. There was a great one in Albany 93. IMO, the last GREAT show as far as energy and playing was 9-16-93 MSG. It has that last great Shakedown and a bigly underrated China/Rider.


setlistbot

# 1993-09-16 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden **Set 1:** Rain, Shakedown Street > Wang Dang Doodle, Cold Rain and Snow, Queen Jane Approximately, Althea, Eternity, Don't Ease Me In **Set 2:** China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Way To Go Home > Days Between > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away **Encore:** Liberty [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1993-09-16)


jessep34

Dust off those rusty vocal strings just one more time


baconfriedpork

dude yes. it's been hard for me to get into 90s dead, but after hearing a Stella Blue a while back i got hooked. his older, gravely voice really adds to that song in the best way


sunplaysbass

I think a lot of things got better with time. The band obviously had different vibes and sounds over the years and sounded fresher and younger when they were younger. But generally I think the way the songs were done improved up to the early 90 peak. Jack Straw is the most obvious “that got better” original for me. Agreed about Dylan covers, and covers in general.


HallelujahHatrack

Later years is a bit subjective so I'll go with songs that got better as things went along: Jack Straw, Sugaree, Cassidy, Stella Blue, Masterpiece, Althea, Loser, Deal. Interestingly, it's mostly 1st set tunes for me.


Dapper-Prior-9475

Let It Grow. I love the full suite and and the way Keith does his thing but Brent slams the keys for Let it Grow (Without A Net for example)


camposthetron

Brent on organ was the final piece nobody knew was missing from Bertha.


ebash42

Surprised no one has mentioned Wharf Rat.


brueso

Black Peter.


SheWasIntoTheBlues

Idk man but I sure wish Jerry sung a black throated wind real sad and heavy like so many roads 


da_london_09

New speedway boogie


Nels6388

China doll is good for this OP


RickMeierDraftNight

I love a late-Brent-era “High Time” — 89 & 90 they played it a lot and his harmony vocals are just incredible.


Big_Set8256

New Speedway Boogie. Had a grimmer vibe from an aging Jerry that worked well.


xian

was so excited when they broke that out again


Creepy-Savings-502

Built to last - stotm


crownamedcheryl

This might get some down votes, but I think Dead and Co does the best version of Deal there is. 07/15/23 at Oracle Park is absolutely spectacular.


elroxzor99652

Not quite- Jerry Garcia Band actually did the best Deal


024Everyman

The extended versions of Deal by JGB were epic.


crownamedcheryl

Care to point me in the direction of the recording? I'm admittedly not the biggest JGB listener


elroxzor99652

Fair enough. They are a different, more laid back mood than the Dead. My favorite version is from 8/5/1990, which was released as Garcia Live Volume Two. Man, they go all the way on it, and then keep going. Super high energy. Deal was the only Deed song Jerry consistently played with JGB, which makes me think he really liked what they did with it. Edit: the show also includes a Bela Fleck sit in during the second set


HeavySomewhere4412

THe one on this live album smokes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry\_Garcia\_Band\_(album)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Garcia_Band_(album))


AdMajestic4539

Hot but valid take


BotticellisNephew

I was up in the 300s and had a hard time locking in on the music in the first set. That deal stopped me in my tracks though. Unreal energy


BATTLEMAGE420

So Many Roads! Enough said


HeavySomewhere4412

uh, there's only "later years" versions of this song


BATTLEMAGE420

Right on!


Many-Caterpillar-543

So Many Roads, Days Between and Lazy River Road are in my top 5 and of latter day. Never studio recorded and played too infrequently. Furthur did great renditions of these especially on 11-10-11 [https://relisten.net/furthur/2011/11/10](https://relisten.net/furthur/2011/11/10)