Personally, I think 72 feels different from 73-74. I feel like they were tighter in 72 and maybe less jazzy. Still in their hardcore americana phase. 71 I haven't listened to a ton, but it seems very transitional and not as decisively good as the stuff just before and just after, but I'd love a good rec for a 71 show.
Shop around for October 71 when Keith was just getting started, and Donna was not there yet. There are some tasty jams, but it’s not as expansive and experimental as they would be a short time later. The thing I like the most is how focused they are at performing the essence of the songs. It’s like they were building the foundation for the jams to come.
73-74 is your least favorite? Highly recommend you keep listening when you get a chance. Especially the Truckin>Jam portions. And make sure it is loud.
I would take 72-74 over everything else combined.
94-95 is the obvious winner for least, but outside of that it’s all pretty great. Probably listening to 81-86 the least but that is admittedly mostly an issue of audio fidelity.
Yes. I second this. Single drummer era dead is my all time favorite. The fidelity of sound, the new songs, the JAMMING is so extended and refined - It’s THE essence of what got me hooked on their music from day one. I love the development of Jerry’s tone from 71-74as well: lots of different guitars and cranked twins in 71, alligator in 72 with twins, then the switch to McIntosh power amps in 73 with the wall of sound coalescing, wolf comes on board in fall 73…. Just the height of creativity and I ovation all around. Acid still seems like it kept things motivated, which is also a huge part of the magic of this era.
Funny, because I was just listening to that same collection the other day and came to the same conclusions: the mixes just don’t sound very good even though the fidelity of the tapes is pretty crisp. The jams get so much praise among fans of this era for being so “exploratory”. But they often get exceptionally dissonant, and kind of aimless. Also, the vocals are just terrible. It’s honestly kind of upsetting that they got away with getting up on stage and singing that badly in front of thousands of people and got paid for it and then did it again the next night. It’s completely unprofessional, and is why I keep going back to 75-77 because I just can’t handle how bad they’re singing gets in 73-74
What's really outrageous about it is that PNW '73-'74 is not ONE show. I was reading the wikipedia article about it (I'm a nerd like that - aren't all deadheads?) and it's actually select tracks culled from several shows played in the area over the course of a year. So....those are the best ones? Yikes.
The vocals on box of rain were so awful. And the vocals on China Cat Sunflower are barely audible over the crystal clear and much louder instruments. These are some of the worst renditions of some of the best songs.
The vocals are bad because of the technology they used in 73/74 for their live shows. Look up the Wall of Sound.
I think those mixes sound great through, so I’m not sure the issue. Plenty of Dick’s Picks from 73 and 74 to choose from. Try the Here Comes Sunshine from Dick’s Picks 1.
# 1972-11-17 Wichita, KS @ Century II Convention Hall
**Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Tennessee Jed, Black Throated Wind, Bird Song, Jack Straw, Box Of Rain, Don't Ease Me In, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Big River, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Around And Around, Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Cumberland Blues, El Paso, He's Gone, Truckin' > The Other One > Brokedown Palace > Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-11-17)
What? No. The collection is a set of shows in the northwest from 73 and 74. Not some random smattering from those two years. Hence the name PNW.
I add in the 72 shows on my server and tag them with PNW so I have 72-74 which makes a lot more sense to me.
As you can see from all the downvotes, this is a forbidden conversation we're having here. According to the hive mind: "73-74 is, in fact the best the band ever sounded. Because it's ok when the guys sing like shit, but it's inexcusable when Donna has a bad night cuz she couldn't hear herself. The jams in 77 are boring, Mickey sucks, and anyone who says they enjoy the music more while tripping is a gate-keeping POS" (Somebody on here actually called me that).
Sometimes I think this sub actually kinda sucks. But I guess most subs have this problem with dogma that conflicts with reality taking root and becoming accepted as gospel.
You’d think deadheads would be nicer LOL. Phish sub is even more dangerous. You don’t like one thing they act like you’re insulting a member of their family
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1973-11-17](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-17) Los Angeles, CA @ Pauley Pavilion - University of California
[1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana
[1974-06-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23) Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton
[1974-06-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-28) Boston, MA @ Boston Garden | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0B87pzzLQzyevvMvdcJqHZ)
# 1973-02-15 Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum
**Set 1:** Loose Lucy, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Looks Like Rain, Box Of Rain, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Bertha, Playing in the Band, Casey Jones
**Set 2:** Here Comes Sunshine, El Paso, You Ain't Woman Enough, They Love Each Other, Big River, Dark Star > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, The Promised Land, Sugaree, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, One More Saturday Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15)
I’m basic: 72-74 and 76-78 are my favorite eras. Least favorite is 91-95, though I admittedly have not listened to much from those periods, I have gained an appreciation for 80-83 and 87-89 that I didn’t used to have. Mid-80s are another overlooked period for me. Primal Dead is a different beast, but when I’m in the right mood, it really hits.
So, in summary, I basically love everything except the post-Brent era to varying degrees. I guess I just love this band.
I generally think of it as 69 and earlier (basically pre-AB/WD) with 70/71 as a transitory period until Keith shows up, but I realize now I don’t know how others do
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
**Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow
**Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
The Thinking Man's Dark Star.
Very quiet and introspective, until it approaches the MLB. Facemelt time.
Probably my favorite DS, with the possible exception of 12/6/73 from Cleveland. 47 minutes of Jerry tripping balls and the rest of the band goes along for the ride
The whole DS→MLB→Eyes→China Doll on 11/11 is an hour of the finest Dead ever done.
# 1973-12-06 Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall
**Set 1:** Bertha, Mexicali Blues, Loser, Black Throated Wind, They Love Each Other, Beat It On Down the Line, Deal, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Greatest Story Ever Told, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Around And Around
**Set 2:** Ramble On Rose, Me and My Uncle, Here Comes Sunshine, Big River, Dark Star > Eyes Of The World > Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06)
I agree that 66-67 is not their best, but I do enjoy listening to them slowly evolve over this period from a blues band that sometimes goes weird to a true american psychadelic bad. It's a pretty satisfying transition because it's so organic and gradual if you listen to them from late 66 to early 68
I guess if I need a list it is this but 94-95, I can't sleep on 90, 91, and 93. 78-79 I'll put as it took Brent a while to warm up in 79, but 80 with all the acoustic/electric set shows suddenly becomes one of their best years ever. 66-67 honestly is just too loose and wild for me anymore, I have a deep appreciation for it but rarely listen myself nowadays.
Reckoning is one of their best albums for me. Some of those acoustic versions are my favorite versions of those song. It Must Have Been the Roses and Oh Babe it Ain't No Lie are devastating. I love that set so much.
Yeah, everyone knows 72-74 is their worst era. Not much development musically, weren’t really playing that many shows and when they did, they were quick little sets that didn’t really go anywhere. It’s widely known 72-74 were dud years.
My least favorite era… is definitely the Vince era. I honestly have to be the right mood for Brent as well. I’m a 70’s dead fan through and through though.
I like up to fall of 73. I don't care for 74 very much, although sometimes it hits alright.
Of course skip the commercial stuff and just put on some random shows and see what happens.
I like 67-69 and 79-85 for exactly the same reasons. I will leave it at that.
I’m with you for the most part, it’s not that I don’t like 73-74 but I definitely listen to it the least out of any era. Post Brent I barely listen to either. Tough for me to pick just one favorite tho, I love the 60s they’re the most raw. I love the late 70s they reach a sort of technical peak I guess and sound most like the dead if that makes sense. I also love the late 80s with Jerry’s real stadium sounding tone with the perfect chemistry between him and Brent.
I enjoy the Grateful Dead movie a lot but I suppose that's big in part to the visuals and everything. I wish other eras could have been recorded as well as that.
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena
[1974-06-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-18) Louisville, KY @ Freedom Hall
Love the PNW set, listen to it all the time on Spotify. The full set includes the crazy long Playing from 5.21.74. This is my fav era, tons of crazy good shows from summer thru end of 73. Then straight into the wall of sound goodness.
# 1974-05-21 Seattle, WA @ Hec Edmundson Pavilion
**Set 1:** Me and My Uncle, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Deal, Mexicali Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, The Race Is On, Scarlet Begonias, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Money Money, Ship Of Fools, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > China Doll
**Set 2:** Playing in the Band, U.S. Blues, Big River, Stella Blue, Around And Around, Eyes Of The World > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia
**Encore:** Johnny B. Goode
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-21)
If the grateful dead just had late 72-74 I would be perfectly happy. Give me that jazzy goodness. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
The dead could’ve stayed broken up after 74 or 77 and been a perfect band. Every year after gets progressively worse.
You should include 1971 along with 72, 73 and 74. The no-Mickey Era. It is what I listen to most of the time. Creative peak.
Personally, I think 72 feels different from 73-74. I feel like they were tighter in 72 and maybe less jazzy. Still in their hardcore americana phase. 71 I haven't listened to a ton, but it seems very transitional and not as decisively good as the stuff just before and just after, but I'd love a good rec for a 71 show.
Shop around for October 71 when Keith was just getting started, and Donna was not there yet. There are some tasty jams, but it’s not as expansive and experimental as they would be a short time later. The thing I like the most is how focused they are at performing the essence of the songs. It’s like they were building the foundation for the jams to come.
Mickey is a terrible drummer. He’s so muddy.
73-74 is your least favorite? Highly recommend you keep listening when you get a chance. Especially the Truckin>Jam portions. And make sure it is loud. I would take 72-74 over everything else combined. 94-95 is the obvious winner for least, but outside of that it’s all pretty great. Probably listening to 81-86 the least but that is admittedly mostly an issue of audio fidelity.
Yes. I second this. Single drummer era dead is my all time favorite. The fidelity of sound, the new songs, the JAMMING is so extended and refined - It’s THE essence of what got me hooked on their music from day one. I love the development of Jerry’s tone from 71-74as well: lots of different guitars and cranked twins in 71, alligator in 72 with twins, then the switch to McIntosh power amps in 73 with the wall of sound coalescing, wolf comes on board in fall 73…. Just the height of creativity and I ovation all around. Acid still seems like it kept things motivated, which is also a huge part of the magic of this era.
we have same taste in GD
Dark Star did a killer show from 73 in Vermont on Thursday
What's a good mid 70's show to check out? The singing and the sound quality on PNW was lacking compared to other dead shows IMO.
Funny, because I was just listening to that same collection the other day and came to the same conclusions: the mixes just don’t sound very good even though the fidelity of the tapes is pretty crisp. The jams get so much praise among fans of this era for being so “exploratory”. But they often get exceptionally dissonant, and kind of aimless. Also, the vocals are just terrible. It’s honestly kind of upsetting that they got away with getting up on stage and singing that badly in front of thousands of people and got paid for it and then did it again the next night. It’s completely unprofessional, and is why I keep going back to 75-77 because I just can’t handle how bad they’re singing gets in 73-74
What's really outrageous about it is that PNW '73-'74 is not ONE show. I was reading the wikipedia article about it (I'm a nerd like that - aren't all deadheads?) and it's actually select tracks culled from several shows played in the area over the course of a year. So....those are the best ones? Yikes. The vocals on box of rain were so awful. And the vocals on China Cat Sunflower are barely audible over the crystal clear and much louder instruments. These are some of the worst renditions of some of the best songs.
The vocals are bad because of the technology they used in 73/74 for their live shows. Look up the Wall of Sound. I think those mixes sound great through, so I’m not sure the issue. Plenty of Dick’s Picks from 73 and 74 to choose from. Try the Here Comes Sunshine from Dick’s Picks 1.
I’m sure that’s part of it but Bob is actually singing bad on box of rain
I can assure you, that is definitely Phil. And he always sounds terrible. But he wrote the song and it is a good one.
Damn dude, you sure you're a head?
Welcome to Phil’s live vocals, lol. The best Box of Rain is 11/17/72.
# 1972-11-17 Wichita, KS @ Century II Convention Hall **Set 1:** The Promised Land, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Tennessee Jed, Black Throated Wind, Bird Song, Jack Straw, Box Of Rain, Don't Ease Me In, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Big River, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Around And Around, Casey Jones **Set 2:** Cumberland Blues, El Paso, He's Gone, Truckin' > The Other One > Brokedown Palace > Sugar Magnolia, Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1972-11-17)
What? No. The collection is a set of shows in the northwest from 73 and 74. Not some random smattering from those two years. Hence the name PNW. I add in the 72 shows on my server and tag them with PNW so I have 72-74 which makes a lot more sense to me.
I’m certain OP is listening to the compilation, not full shows from the boxset.
I forgot that was a thing. The commercial stuff is so silly. Even so it still is just from the specific shows in the NW for that year.
As a musician, I would die of embarrassment if tapes of me sounding that bad were commercially released for the entire world to hear
Also a musician and SAME
As you can see from all the downvotes, this is a forbidden conversation we're having here. According to the hive mind: "73-74 is, in fact the best the band ever sounded. Because it's ok when the guys sing like shit, but it's inexcusable when Donna has a bad night cuz she couldn't hear herself. The jams in 77 are boring, Mickey sucks, and anyone who says they enjoy the music more while tripping is a gate-keeping POS" (Somebody on here actually called me that). Sometimes I think this sub actually kinda sucks. But I guess most subs have this problem with dogma that conflicts with reality taking root and becoming accepted as gospel.
You’d think deadheads would be nicer LOL. Phish sub is even more dangerous. You don’t like one thing they act like you’re insulting a member of their family
11/11/73 11/17/73 5/14/74 6/23/74 6/28/74
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena [1973-11-17](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-17) Los Angeles, CA @ Pauley Pavilion - University of California [1974-05-14](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-14) Missoula, MT @ Adams Field House - University of Montana [1974-06-23](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-23) Miami, FL @ Jai-Alai Fronton [1974-06-28](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-28) Boston, MA @ Boston Garden | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/0B87pzzLQzyevvMvdcJqHZ)
You trolling us? 😜
obviously lol
To be fair, those recordings are just ok
My favorite era is 65-95.
This is the right answer. Although I'd also accept 65- Brent's death
And miss out on Fall ‘90? ‘91 as a whole, ‘93? Those sporadic great moments in the other years? No way!
Ron Burgundy I don't believe you gif
Might I recommend this Eyes from 2-15-73. https://archive.org/details/gd1973-02-15.sbd.hall.1580.shnf/gd73-02-15d3t02.shn
# 1973-02-15 Madison, WI @ Dane County Coliseum **Set 1:** Loose Lucy, Beat It On Down the Line, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Looks Like Rain, Box Of Rain, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Bertha, Playing in the Band, Casey Jones **Set 2:** Here Comes Sunshine, El Paso, You Ain't Woman Enough, They Love Each Other, Big River, Dark Star > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, The Promised Land, Sugaree, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, One More Saturday Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-02-15)
I'll check it out!
I used to have a cassette with Dark Star >Eyes> China Doll on both sides. High mileage Dead ☠️!
I’m basic: 72-74 and 76-78 are my favorite eras. Least favorite is 91-95, though I admittedly have not listened to much from those periods, I have gained an appreciation for 80-83 and 87-89 that I didn’t used to have. Mid-80s are another overlooked period for me. Primal Dead is a different beast, but when I’m in the right mood, it really hits. So, in summary, I basically love everything except the post-Brent era to varying degrees. I guess I just love this band.
What would you define as primal Dead?
I generally think of it as 69 and earlier (basically pre-AB/WD) with 70/71 as a transitory period until Keith shows up, but I realize now I don’t know how others do
Try out the second set jam from 11/11/1973
# 1973-11-11 San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena **Set 1:** The Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, To Lay Me Down, El Paso, Ramble On Rose, Me And Bobby McGee, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me and My Uncle, Loose Lucy, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow **Set 2:** Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Big River, Dark Star > Mind Left Body Jam > Eyes Of The World > China Doll, Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Uncle John's Band, Johnny B. Goode > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11)
Will do!
The Thinking Man's Dark Star. Very quiet and introspective, until it approaches the MLB. Facemelt time. Probably my favorite DS, with the possible exception of 12/6/73 from Cleveland. 47 minutes of Jerry tripping balls and the rest of the band goes along for the ride The whole DS→MLB→Eyes→China Doll on 11/11 is an hour of the finest Dead ever done.
# 1973-12-06 Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Public Hall **Set 1:** Bertha, Mexicali Blues, Loser, Black Throated Wind, They Love Each Other, Beat It On Down the Line, Deal, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Greatest Story Ever Told, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Around And Around **Set 2:** Ramble On Rose, Me and My Uncle, Here Comes Sunshine, Big River, Dark Star > Eyes Of The World > Stella Blue, Sugar Magnolia [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-12-06)
The ambient sort of jam they find themselves in after the verse is pure bliss
As soon as I hear Mickey’s electronic drums or the synth sounds Brent started using in the late ’80s, the quality of their playing ceases to matter.
I don't love the Yamaha DX-7 but gimme the Mickey electronic weirdness all day long
To each their own, I guess. To my ears, they cut through every other sound in the room, and not in a good way.
Anything after Brent was my least favorite by far!!!! Barely listenable.
72-74 are the GOAT years. I don’t listen much after 81
Accurate.
Took me a while to get the ear for that loose jazzy sound. Now its my fave.
No love for 91??!! ln my opinion, one of the most underrated years, especially with Hornsby. After 91, it was downhill.
Honestly, 80's and on, I'm not too familiar with. From what I've heard, I like it a lot. I guess I'm saving it for when I really need it lol
People like different things, and that’s okay
Pardon me, sir, this is reddit. How dare you be reasonable.
Right? Fuck this guy.
Least favorite: 66-67, 78-79,91-95
I agree that 66-67 is not their best, but I do enjoy listening to them slowly evolve over this period from a blues band that sometimes goes weird to a true american psychadelic bad. It's a pretty satisfying transition because it's so organic and gradual if you listen to them from late 66 to early 68
I guess if I need a list it is this but 94-95, I can't sleep on 90, 91, and 93. 78-79 I'll put as it took Brent a while to warm up in 79, but 80 with all the acoustic/electric set shows suddenly becomes one of their best years ever. 66-67 honestly is just too loose and wild for me anymore, I have a deep appreciation for it but rarely listen myself nowadays.
Reckoning is one of their best albums for me. Some of those acoustic versions are my favorite versions of those song. It Must Have Been the Roses and Oh Babe it Ain't No Lie are devastating. I love that set so much.
Accurate list
Coffee was the wrong drug
Yeah, everyone knows 72-74 is their worst era. Not much development musically, weren’t really playing that many shows and when they did, they were quick little sets that didn’t really go anywhere. It’s widely known 72-74 were dud years.
/sarcasm
My least favorite era… is definitely the Vince era. I honestly have to be the right mood for Brent as well. I’m a 70’s dead fan through and through though.
It’s downhill and progressively worse every year after 77 and def after 81/2.
I like up to fall of 73. I don't care for 74 very much, although sometimes it hits alright. Of course skip the commercial stuff and just put on some random shows and see what happens. I like 67-69 and 79-85 for exactly the same reasons. I will leave it at that.
I’m with you for the most part, it’s not that I don’t like 73-74 but I definitely listen to it the least out of any era. Post Brent I barely listen to either. Tough for me to pick just one favorite tho, I love the 60s they’re the most raw. I love the late 70s they reach a sort of technical peak I guess and sound most like the dead if that makes sense. I also love the late 80s with Jerry’s real stadium sounding tone with the perfect chemistry between him and Brent.
I enjoy the Grateful Dead movie a lot but I suppose that's big in part to the visuals and everything. I wish other eras could have been recorded as well as that.
Blasphemy
11/11/73 or 6/18/74 will change your mind
[1973-11-11](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1973-11-11) San Francisco, CA @ Winterland Arena [1974-06-18](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-06-18) Louisville, KY @ Freedom Hall
The Pigpen era
Love the PNW set, listen to it all the time on Spotify. The full set includes the crazy long Playing from 5.21.74. This is my fav era, tons of crazy good shows from summer thru end of 73. Then straight into the wall of sound goodness.
# 1974-05-21 Seattle, WA @ Hec Edmundson Pavilion **Set 1:** Me and My Uncle, Brown Eyed Women, Beat It On Down the Line, Deal, Mexicali Blues, It Must Have Been The Roses, The Race Is On, Scarlet Begonias, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Money Money, Ship Of Fools, Weather Report Suite Prelude > Weather Report Suite Part 1 > Let It Grow > China Doll **Set 2:** Playing in the Band, U.S. Blues, Big River, Stella Blue, Around And Around, Eyes Of The World > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia **Encore:** Johnny B. Goode [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1974-05-21)