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Good question, daverock. And a poser, as you Brits might say, when it comes to the Dead. Some of their best songs are clearly defined in the studio, such as Ripple and Box of Rain, which you mention. Others, Jack Straw, Bertha, Sugaree, Playing in the Band, The Eleven, Loser, He's Gone, or poor old August West, the Wharf Rat, never got laid down in a studio for a Dead album (two of those made it on solo records, one with the whole band, but don't count, and that one would not be defined or confined by a studio rendition). Black Peter is not a favorite of mine at all, but I can tell you my two favorite versions are 6-23-74 DaP 34 and 10-29-77 DaP 33. I had a list of other favorite live versions, but was Hey Now'd.

Playing 11-18-72
China Cat Rider 6-26-74 DiP 12, my first time hearing the pairing on a Dick's Picks sampler, thought they'd all have the intro jam
Scarlet Fire 5-8-77 my first tape, so that's how it "should be" to me
He's Gone 11-18-72, with 11-17-72 my number 2
Loose Lucy 6-9-73 Dick Latvala made special note of this on his notes on the show based on Kidd's thoughts!
Jack Straw 8-27-72 those Phil slides
Sugaree 5-28-72
Weather Report Suite 6-28-74 DiP 12 is magnificent
Ship of Fools 6-23-74 all about intro Jams
That's It For The Other One 3-1-69 "The American version of the Japanese film The Magnificent Seven..." yowza!
The Eleven 3-2-69 (if you know better, please tell me)
Here Comes Sunshine 12-19-73 leadoff home run by Dick

Edited to add: largely agree on those other two you mention, daverock Attics and Brokedown, but I will say that the Brokedown that emanates from the smoking crater of The Other One from 11-17-72 is just gorgeous and moving. That whole sequence from the He's Gone on is astounding.

I'll take live every time

AB does have a bundle of studio gems, fo' sho'

Is there any significance to the number sequence in your avatar?

Can't post anything, Hey Now. Won't let me add through edits. Still trying, can't post

It's a big thing in the show Lost, where the (really obscure) character name Alvar Hanso comes from. And he's a person, among several on the show (and in its mysterious background offscreen) who ruminate on those numbers. Don't wanna reveal too much and spoil anything. The last number in the sequence, 42, was chosen as an homage to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which posits that 42 is the answer to the meaning of the universe, life, and everything. Lost, in its way, tried to answer the question of meaning as well, in a far less humorous way, but just as entertaining and engrossing.

....acceptable.
Except Cumberland Blues isnt on it. Swap out Casey Jones for it and put Cumberland at around #15.
Casey Jones is overrated. Sorry not sorry.

Now I know

Oy.

I am so old.

Alvarhanso - some of the versions strike a chord, - China Cat-Rider from 6/26/74 is a clear pinnacle, as is everything on 1/3/69 , 5/8/77's Scarlet-Fire - but some don't ring any bells. A useful guide for some exploring.

I've always thought Casey Jones was a bit of a tiddler.

Casey Jones, personally either. Don't know why. And it's funny I can have favorite versions of songs I don't care as much about, like Black Peter or Loose Lucy (bc they stand out as so much better, perhaps), but cannot decide on others. Some more random favorites:
So Many Roads 10-1-94 30 Trips Boston, with Jerry giving his all on the vocals
Greatest Story Ever Told 8-27-72 the Wah and Donna are just about perfect on this fiery version
Tennessee Jed 5-21-77 DiP 29 only one of the era I know of with Jerry doing the solo on evelope filter right after a pair of Jacks (a Roe and Straw)
Cumberland Blues 11-17-72 not sure about favorite, but way up there, love how Phil is rarin' to go and start the set (saw him do just that with Phil and Friends with Cumberland in 2006)
Terrapin 2-26-77 somehow hard to top that first one
Comes a Time 7-17-76 DaP 18 16 min, we shall see if 5-4-77 on 50th Bonus will compare
Crazy Fingers 6-14-76 my favorite show from that June '76 box
Bird Song 3-29-90 as much as I love 6-22-73, 11-17-72, and some others, that wonderful sax of Branford is so sweet and ethereal and pushes Jerry, Phil, and company to ever greater heights

Had to go to DiP 29 5-21-77 just to see what envelope filter sounds like, lol. What a great release. Six CDs of bliss. Two full shows plus extra. I like this format!
Cheers

Did Y’all forget?? We already decided you need 2 lists: one live & one studio.

Silly rabbits.

And it pretty much stopped at those 4: Ripple, Box of Rain, Attics of My Life, and Brokedown Palace. Pretty fair list, and comprehensive, as I can't think of any other Dead songs where I prefer the studio track. High Time on Workingman's is close, but there are some much better live ones. There are a few tracks where it's choosing the lesser of evils, such as Money, Money or Let Me Sing Your Blues Away.

It appears as though you and I have very similar taste. I 100% concur with your nominations of China Cat>Rider, S>F, Terrapin, So Many Roads, HCS, and your spot on analysis of Bird Song. My preference for The Other One is 5/3/72.

For H>S>F I would go with either 5/9/77 or 5/22/77. I realize that many folks would go with 8/13/75 (One From the Vault). But to me, if you take out the introduction, it doesn’t hold up to the other two.

Other personal favorites include:

Peggy-O 5/7/77

She Belongs to Me 11/8/85

Truckin 5/26/72 or 5/19/74

....tonight. Magnificito!

For many years I've thought of 6/9/77 as being my favourite H-S-F. Similarly, the version of The Other One that first comes to mind as a classic is the one from 5/2/70 at Binghampton.
Possibly because of the box set, apart from 5/26/72, I can't distinguish individual shows from the European tour so easily, in my memory, after I have played them.

I concur with your personal favorite of She Belongs to Me 11/8/85, but I'm biased since I was there in Rachacha.

About when will the "Mars Hotel Shop" be rolled out.. ?

The 4/30/77 Scarlet>Fire is funkier with more envelope filter than the 5/8/77 version. Not necessarily “better” but more to my liking. IMHO, the studio version of Estimated Prophet is really good. Again, not necessarily “better” than some live versions with improv jams but always listenable and well done.

Have not be able to post due to hey now, trying again, cant keyboard much, thumb in a brace. Nominate Unbroken Chain for studio is better... though it was epic when finally played live. Wow, it went through, here's some earlier text to try again. Lost became so mysterious, will have to go back and check it out. Jack Kerouac wrote about The Dharma Bums, maybe that explains it.

Magisterial studio cut, decent song live when finally played, as you said dmcvt. I've seen Phil do it a few times, and they've been magnificent and jammed out.

It's cool some of us love exactly the same flavors, some like it spiced just a bit differently. :)

I was there as well. That’s why it’s a personal fave. I tried to leave attendance bias off my list, but that one I couldn’t.

....aka Boxilla.
Realized it's been a minute since I've listened 🎶 to the Providence '78 offering within.
Let's see what up, shall we?
Half-Step opener it is. Bodes well.
The scroll begs to be framed.
I'll get to it eventually.

Yes...50 years ago

Redo with a show? How about it Dave??

Going into commercial they played studio version of Cold Rain and Snow

That was a surprise

....I've heard Dead. Phish. Ween. Widespread Panic. Talking Heads. And Beck.
Internal radar kicks in.
Google the catalyst.

was COOL going into commercial break of the Steelers - Bills game, looked at the wife, and she said was that GD, big grins all around our family room

Peace All!

We should be getting a seaside chat soon.

And than bring on the box news!

I turned on the dusty old wireless this morning to a lovely 10-21-71 Dark Star. Highly recommend it with a good coffee. Not quite the rumble of Phil’s hand heard in other versions, but definitely exactly the right tune to start the day. Having just received 48 this week (the first one is MIA), I’ll delve into more 1971 this weekend.

AJS - Jack, what do you think of #98 on the CBH? The real deal, IMHO. Have you ordered the home jersey yet?

this is very frustrating, multiple attempts, nothing allowed, wtf is going on

What could be better than spending Wed & Thur Listening to 10 hours, 32 minutes and 21 seconds of "highlights" from the last 4 years of "30 Days of Dead"??

Not much, that's for sure.

Music is the Best!!

I my past experience, Half step openers are the tops, and the entire show usually smokes. Dig it been listening to some 78 myself lately, Jer was so alive back then, on top of it, all over it, in and out, up and down, round and round, so good, loved the hippy look too.

Totally agree! That "Half Step" opener on Dave's 37 really smokes, as does the entire William & Mary show.

Mike,

This censorship BS blows. I am not allowed to post my response.

3 10 81

8 31 78

They dont seem to care unfortunately

....moving on in chronological order.
Oooooh. Cape Fukin Cod? Twist my arm.
Here's to the next night being released one day 🤌

Jack, I totally get it. The site’s gone wild here, it’s crazy. One of the best forums out there dragged down by the Technological singularity. I’ll watch for your response in the meantime, if you get through, because I’ve been wondering your thoughts on #98, and all thinks ice!

Luv luv luv reading about all youse guys fave shows and songs. Keep 'em coming!

Hate hate hate the Hey Now Problem. It's almost like they're trying to fill off this forum. Have tried to post some of my own faves, but keep getting Hey Now'd. We'll see what happens with this post.

I'm not a robot!

Keep getting the dreaded Hey Now.
Make it stop!

See Recents, f ree s tuff category.
Cheers

Good bye old friend 71!
Tanks for the goodness!
Onward!

Howdy Mike!
You and AJS would be proud at how much “best game in the land” I’ve been up to this year! Key, watch with sound down, tunes up!
Good season so far🤞

....good lineup coming to the Brooklyn Bowl. Cumbia Rave tomorrow. $17. Los Lobos would approve. Keller Williams on the 25th. Got tix for that. $30. Pink Talking Fish on the 28th. $25. Probably gonna pull the trigger on that one.
And Lettuce Feb 1st. $30.
Looks nice.

….Daves Picks #31 was a 79’ performance & the cover artwork was a dragon. The Chinese New Year 2024 will fall on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, starting the year of the Dragon. I’m hoping the next Boxset is “chasing the dragon” of 1979 Grateful Dead’s magic!

Between this one and Dave’s pick 49, which would yall go for as I can only afford one as much as I’d love to get both

I would say go for #49.
You will be getting 2 fantastic shows from a less mined time period.
Peace

I'd go for Daves 48. In fact I have. Fall 1971 was one of the greatest periods in the Deads career - and any show from that era would trump two from 1985 for me. Not for everyone though - just depends what you like.

I think that is a first. He only gets one?

So, which Dave's will sell out first?

There are four currently for sale now.

What will be in that 79 box Love My Girl?

personally, gonna stand with TN JOHN on this one; gotta believe that different gear & different recordings from two different bands during two different periods of music 14 years apart renders those releases non-comparable, and
DAVEROCK nails it, which ERA do you like BEST?

peace all!
uncle_tripel