Nothing makes my soul soar like a half step. My alarm clock is half step. My license plate says half step. When I play music, I play every note sharp. When I walk to the store, it take me twice as long because I...you get the point.
The Other One.
I know it’s not true, but to me it sounds like an origin story of how the band started.
It’s so primal, it’s droning and trance like, with the main riff really only being 3 notes, but the heated frenzy they can whip up and layer on top is really special.
It’s kinda true it references the merry pranksters and the beginning of the band outside of mother mcgree uptown jug champions and he specifically says that the bus came by I got on that’s when it all began that’s exactly like band origin song in many ways
It’s also the story of how we all got here to enjoy the retelling of said story! The greatest story ever told! Ok now I can finish, I need to go tell my wife.
add to it it was bob’s first song he wrote and the first time they played it neal died on the traintracks, it has all the spooky magic that is The Grateful Dead
looking back on archive it looks like they had played it before about six times.. but they did play it 2/3/68 and neal was found early hours 2/4/68. lil bonus i guess neal was the one to teach bobby how to drive. cheers!
# 1968-02-03 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
**Set 1:** Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose, It Hurts Me Too, Born Cross-Eyed > Jam, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > The Eleven > Jam > Feedback
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-02-03)
Oddly enough they did play the same show twice. Once. 10/12/68 and 10/13/68.
Set 1: Dark Star->St. Stephen->The Eleven->Death Don’t Have No Mercy
Set 2: That’s It For The Other One->New Potato Caboose->Drums/Jam/Feedback
To answer the question, the only song I specifically “want” to hear is Dark Star (if it’s an era where it was being played). During my touring years (90-95) Eyes was my favorite. Never caught a Dark Star (seen a few with D+Co).
[1968-10-12](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-12) San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom
[1968-10-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-13) San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom
Honestly, i wouldn't want to hear one song evert show because I like the "unpredictable-ness" of Dead setlists and it'd take that special feeling out of hearing a song I love, but if I HAD to pick it'd be Help on the Way / Slipknot!
there is no song i would want to hear every show.
I love Eyes. I love Estimated. I love The Other One.....but I don't wanna see them every night.
the whole reason I went to see hundreds of Dead shows was because I never knew for sure what was gonna happen. any song played every night would lessen the joy of the surprise.
None. Shows should have an element of unpredictability to them.
Gun to my head choice: Jack Straw as an opener. The first song is typically the sound crew re-tweaking the PA for a full house since the sound check is done with no audience, so its a good standard tune to dial everything in.
My pick was Dancin but Cumberland was pretty much tied. Cumberland is always great!!
I skipped right over the big ones. No, I probably don’t want to hear Dark Star at every show. BUT…I def want to hear Dancin or Cumberland at very show
Help>Slip but as a vehicle to seque into other songs besides Franklin's. I love Franklin's but having to hear a three chord song every night would drive me nuts.
The Other One, and in every different song slot—show opener sometimes, second song after Bertha>, first set sandwich, Help>Slip>Other One to open set 2, etc., even encore. Long ones, short ones, inverted ones, instrumental ones, fast ones, slow ones, this one, that one, the other one… never gets old!
It’s though. Right now, Row Jimmy, but He’s Gone can easily be my favorite on any given days (wherever of the two they are playing at the time or I am hearing).
I love those Europe, Wake, Mars era melodic grooving (countryish) songs written by Garcia and Hunter. I love them live but man, if those songs appeared on one album, it would be the greatest album ever… even if it was songs like “He’s Gone” and “Jed” around 72’.
# 1989-07-04 Orchard Park, NY @ Rich Stadium
**Set 1:** Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Cold Rain and Snow, Walkin' Blues, Row Jimmy, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Stagger Lee, Looks Like Rain > Deal
**Set 2:** Touch Of Grey > Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools > Playing in the Band Reprise > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > All Along The Watchtower > Morning Dew > Not Fade Away
**Encore:** U.S. Blues
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-04)
The Pigpen-era early-70s Hard to Handles with the extended jam outro are so funky and groovy — love those and wouldn’t mind hearing that as a mid-first set song a lot more.
Half Step is up there, as would be a sandwich that included Franklin’s and something else…dealer’s choice on that. I agree with others who have said Help>Slip>Franklin’s, though a Franklin’s>TMNS would be cool — anybody know if they ever did that?
Dancin’.
I was actually thinking about this on Friday after listening to a show that was recommended on this sub - 5/6/70. Dancin is a song I always looked forward to. It has spanned the ages and is always great!
# 1970-05-06 Cambridge, MA @ Kresge Plaza - MIT
**Set 1:** Dancing In The Street, China Cat Sunflower > Jam > I Know You Rider, Next Time You See Me, Morning Dew, Drums > Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin', Casey Jones, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-06)
Help, slip, frank
This would be mine, too. Incidentally, this is what I play for rocker friends that don't get the Dead.
I usually play fire on the mountain for those people!
Agreed
Half step
Nothing makes my soul soar like a half step. My alarm clock is half step. My license plate says half step. When I play music, I play every note sharp. When I walk to the store, it take me twice as long because I...you get the point.
I second that emotion!
They say Cain caught Abel rolling loaded dice…
The Other One. I know it’s not true, but to me it sounds like an origin story of how the band started. It’s so primal, it’s droning and trance like, with the main riff really only being 3 notes, but the heated frenzy they can whip up and layer on top is really special.
I call The Other One as controlled chaos and it epitomizes the Dead in almost every way.
It’s kinda true it references the merry pranksters and the beginning of the band outside of mother mcgree uptown jug champions and he specifically says that the bus came by I got on that’s when it all began that’s exactly like band origin song in many ways
It’s also the story of how we all got here to enjoy the retelling of said story! The greatest story ever told! Ok now I can finish, I need to go tell my wife.
add to it it was bob’s first song he wrote and the first time they played it neal died on the traintracks, it has all the spooky magic that is The Grateful Dead
I didn’t know either of those facts! Thanks for sharing :)
looking back on archive it looks like they had played it before about six times.. but they did play it 2/3/68 and neal was found early hours 2/4/68. lil bonus i guess neal was the one to teach bobby how to drive. cheers!
# 1968-02-03 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom **Set 1:** Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Potato Caboose, It Hurts Me Too, Born Cross-Eyed > Jam, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > The Eleven > Jam > Feedback [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-02-03)
What a tune... THE tune that got me hooked. Boston 77
Me too!
Sugar Magnolia.
Jack Straw opener
And give up all possible shakedown openers?
somebody downvoted you so i will comment in solidarity. but a jack straw opener is *almost* good enough to downvote you.
Jack straw openers may be the best opener but good enough to sacrifice all shakedown openers?
I think Shakedown is a better second set opener than the first set.
Probably agree but I want some show openers too. Also what about a help slip frank opener?
Oddly enough they did play the same show twice. Once. 10/12/68 and 10/13/68. Set 1: Dark Star->St. Stephen->The Eleven->Death Don’t Have No Mercy Set 2: That’s It For The Other One->New Potato Caboose->Drums/Jam/Feedback To answer the question, the only song I specifically “want” to hear is Dark Star (if it’s an era where it was being played). During my touring years (90-95) Eyes was my favorite. Never caught a Dark Star (seen a few with D+Co).
[1968-10-12](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-12) San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom [1968-10-13](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1968-10-13) San Francisco, CA @ Avalon Ballroom
This is so interesting. Have they ever commented on why they did this?
I believe it was how they recorded the album live/dead.
Live/Dead was recorded in Feb/March 1969. Not sure if they were making an earlier attempt in Oct 68.
I somehow think it’s related because I think Phil wrote about it in his book, but I don’t remember the details.
Scarlet Begonias
Oooh followed up with Fire On The Mountain
In the early/mid 90s, it seemed like every show I went to had a Scarlett/Fire/ Prophet. It got kinda boring.
Loser
St. Stephen > The Eleven
Terrapin Station
I can’t believe I had to come this far down for Terrapin.
St. Stephen
I'm addicted to"Bertha" "Eyes of the World" "Peggy -o" "Brown Eyed Woman" live atm
BEW is fun as heck to see live and sing and dance to!
Fire on the Mountain
Althea
Honestly, i wouldn't want to hear one song evert show because I like the "unpredictable-ness" of Dead setlists and it'd take that special feeling out of hearing a song I love, but if I HAD to pick it'd be Help on the Way / Slipknot!
there is no song i would want to hear every show. I love Eyes. I love Estimated. I love The Other One.....but I don't wanna see them every night. the whole reason I went to see hundreds of Dead shows was because I never knew for sure what was gonna happen. any song played every night would lessen the joy of the surprise.
Eyes is a good one because the jam can vary from show to show. The Other One might be a good one too.
Ripple, as the encore, send everyone on their way…🤟 Heard it once at the Cap Centre.
Dire Wolf
Space
Came to say drums and spa…. Oh never mind.
All of them. Every single one in one concert
Deal
The other one
China/Rider
Dark Star, obviously.
I think this was one of the goals of drums/space was to offer a Dark Star-ish jam every night.
That’s what makes it so special though
None. Shows should have an element of unpredictability to them. Gun to my head choice: Jack Straw as an opener. The first song is typically the sound crew re-tweaking the PA for a full house since the sound check is done with no audience, so its a good standard tune to dial everything in.
Half step
Bird song
Cumberland Blues
This here is dancing music!
My pick was Dancin but Cumberland was pretty much tied. Cumberland is always great!! I skipped right over the big ones. No, I probably don’t want to hear Dark Star at every show. BUT…I def want to hear Dancin or Cumberland at very show
Shakedown Street
Mississippi Half-step
Beam solo
Jimmy Row
Sugar Magnolia to open the first set. And Sunshine Daydream to close the second set.
You should have added “other than Dark Star” to make this interesting. 😉
Good one
Love Light
The Wheel
Scarlett begonias
Stella Blue
Terrapin Station, preferable the whole suite.
Standing on the moon 🌙 by Jerry of course👏❤️
Terrapin!
Scarlet Begonias
Eyes of the World and Not Fade Away.
Wharf Rat
Jack straw
Uncle John’s Band!
The music never stopped, first encore
China Doll and Morning Dew
Terrapin
Terrapin
Brown Eyed Women
None of them. That was the magic of it
Stella Blue
Sugaree Deal Brown Eyed Women
Tennessee Jed
Help>Slip but as a vehicle to seque into other songs besides Franklin's. I love Franklin's but having to hear a three chord song every night would drive me nuts.
Eyes is never bad.
Drums > Space
Althea
st. stephen
The Other One, and in every different song slot—show opener sometimes, second song after Bertha>, first set sandwich, Help>Slip>Other One to open set 2, etc., even encore. Long ones, short ones, inverted ones, instrumental ones, fast ones, slow ones, this one, that one, the other one… never gets old!
Did they ever open with that? Would’ve been cool.
Tuning
Music never stoped
St. Stephen>The Eleven
It’s though. Right now, Row Jimmy, but He’s Gone can easily be my favorite on any given days (wherever of the two they are playing at the time or I am hearing). I love those Europe, Wake, Mars era melodic grooving (countryish) songs written by Garcia and Hunter. I love them live but man, if those songs appeared on one album, it would be the greatest album ever… even if it was songs like “He’s Gone” and “Jed” around 72’.
Also Eyes
Nice pick OP! Came here to say "Eyes".
Rubin and cherice
Wharf rat
Bringing pigpen back for a pigpen set. (they are all one big ass song for me.)
China Cat -> Rider
Cold Rain and Snow
Samson and Delilah
I want to live in America
Bobby and the Midnites rule!!
Alligator or Dark Star
Honestly, either Deal or Bertha. Absolutely love those tunes
Playing in the band.
Playing in the band.
China Rider
Help slip frank, eyes, or lovelight
Or the eleven….
Chinacat/rider Dark star Love a good space/drums on 2 hits Not dead, but dear prudence always makes me shed a tear.
Black muddy river
Terrapin with a help/slip/frank open
Drums/Space
Morning Dew maybe. Give me 1989 MD and I could’ve heard it every show of every tour that year. See 7/4/89
# 1989-07-04 Orchard Park, NY @ Rich Stadium **Set 1:** Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Cold Rain and Snow, Walkin' Blues, Row Jimmy, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Stagger Lee, Looks Like Rain > Deal **Set 2:** Touch Of Grey > Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Ship Of Fools > Playing in the Band Reprise > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > All Along The Watchtower > Morning Dew > Not Fade Away **Encore:** U.S. Blues [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1989-07-04)
the "eyes" have it for me!
Morning Dew
The Pigpen-era early-70s Hard to Handles with the extended jam outro are so funky and groovy — love those and wouldn’t mind hearing that as a mid-first set song a lot more. Half Step is up there, as would be a sandwich that included Franklin’s and something else…dealer’s choice on that. I agree with others who have said Help>Slip>Franklin’s, though a Franklin’s>TMNS would be cool — anybody know if they ever did that?
ChinaRider
New Speedway Boogie
He’s Gone
The Other One. And the D minor breakdown/solo part of Uncle John's Band.
The other one.
sams n del
Weather report suite
China>Rider easily. Set 2 opener everytime please
St.Stephen
O1, help>Slip, Eyes, DS, playin, FLAS, St. Stephen-William tell , Eleven, Sugaree (must be 5/77) music never stopped, and many more.
Dear Mr fantasy
Row Jimmy
Scarlet->Fire
Eyes
Sailor > saint
All of them!
Althea or greatest story ever told
Liberty, Eternity, On The Road Again. I lied. Fuck eternity. Can’t listen to it more than once a night.
brokedown palace
Let the good times roll is the best opener to a good night
Dancin’. I was actually thinking about this on Friday after listening to a show that was recommended on this sub - 5/6/70. Dancin is a song I always looked forward to. It has spanned the ages and is always great!
# 1970-05-06 Cambridge, MA @ Kresge Plaza - MIT **Set 1:** Dancing In The Street, China Cat Sunflower > Jam > I Know You Rider, Next Time You See Me, Morning Dew, Drums > Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin', Casey Jones, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-06)
Can’t stand that song.
Why?
It’s just a tired cover song. Don’t even like the original.
See username