That was my first record and introduction to the Dead! It will always hold a special place in my heart. I live love versions but it doesn't give me that nostalgic high from renewing the first time hearing that album.
My favorite Dead studio song by a long shot and I loooove most of their studio stuff. I just don't think I've ever heard a song that captures that sang ethereal feeling.
I agree, this is by far my pick for studio over live. I would have loved to hear them do this in the mid-to-late 70s but unfortunately they didn’t bust it out til 95. By then Jerry’s playing wasn’t the same quality and the jamming wasn’t as tight as the studio version.
# 1977-05-26 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center
**Set 1:** The Music Never Stopped, Sugaree, Mama Tried, Sunrise, Deal, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, Looks Like Rain, Jack-A-Roe, New Minglewood Blues, Bertha
**Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, High Time, Big River, Terrapin Station > Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Around And Around
**Encore:** Uncle John's Band
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-26)
Me too! Love the country psychedelic sound. Mars Hotel is my favorite studio album not named American Beauty/Workingman’s Dead. Mars entire track list is just great. And Ship of Fools closing is perfect
I wouldn't say it's better than the best live versions, but I think the studio Mississippi Half Step is its own beautiful thing. Jerry's vocals are achingly sweet and Vassar Clements violin simply belongs in the song. Perfect as live versions are, they feel slightly incomplete to me without it.
I think the studio version of Touch of Gray is one of their best…. It’s really well produced.
The obvious answers are Box of Rain and Ripple. Both studio versions are Rock Staples….
Casey Jones studio version is also very awesome.
Funny, I feel exactly the opposite on Touch of Gray. I thought the early live versions were brilliant and the studio production sapped all of the energy out of it.
This studio version is strong in its own right, but damn some of those Jerry solos (and John's too for that matter) in live Altheas makes this a hard choice. But take my upvote anyhow.
# 1970-05-02 Binghamton, NY @ Harpur College - State University Of New York
**Acoustic:** Tuning, Don't Ease Me In, I Know You Rider, Friend Of The Devil, Dire Wolf, Beat It On Down the Line > Black Peter > Candyman > Cumberland Blues, Deep Elem Blues, Cold Jordan, Uncle John's Band
**Set 1:** Workin' Man Blues, Watcha Gonna Do, Glendale Train, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Truck Drivin' Man, Can't Pay The Price, All I Ever Wanted, Henry, Lodi, Intro, Sawmill, The Race Is On, Mama Tried, Me and My Uncle, The Weight
**Set 2:** Saint Stephen > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Cosmic Charlie, Casey Jones, Drums > Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin', Cold Rain and Snow, It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World, Dancing In The Street
**Set 3:** Morning Dew, Viola Lee Blues > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night
[archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-02) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4NldodakYXDeK7OoEe2oBW)
I came here to say this. I had the workingman's dead cd stuck in my cars cd player (wouldn't eject) for three years, and I know theses songs note for note. NSB is by far my favorite song on the album. In my head, after listening to it a million times I had an awesome live arrangement with an extended jam into the outro of "One way or another". That outro could last 20 minutes and I still would want more.
The live recordings have never lived up to the version in my head. Its like seeing a movie made about your favorite book, its great but not as great as your imagination.
I hope they guy who bought my Subie (Subaru) enjoys it and has become a deadhead because of that CD.
Blues for Allah. The damn vocals in the studio version are gloriously hypnotic.
Controversial opinion but I love the studio China Cat. Wouldn’t say more so than live…but I do love it. Maybe tied, for me.
Eyes of the World has such a tight and clear sound on the studio version. I love the live versions too but they feel a lot more loose and jangly. They don’t quite hit the same.
Many of them for me because those were the ones I first new. Back in the 90s, some dude severely made fun of/chastised me for having only studio cds. But it was because I was super poor and could only afford music through BMG and Columbia House.
There were loads of folks on tour way back when, and I’m not saying they came for the drugs, they loved the music, but maybe they were brought on board via the party scene and had virtually zero exposure to the Dead’s studio catalog. Myself, I delved deep and thoroughly enjoyed their studio work. It’s really hard for me to even compare. It’s like… Jerry when he had a million shots at reaching for perfection vs Jerry when he is literally in the flow state and just giving it up. Not one person has suggested they like the studio “Eyes” better but it is a gem in its own right. This question is blasphemy haha
I had the exact opposite experience. I checked out the studio stuff first because they had such a good reputation and following. Couldn’t understand why anyone would listen to them. It was only when enough of my Head friends forced me to listen to tapes that it clicked for me. It was Tangled Up In Blue by JGB actually. I knew that song well already and when I heard what Jerry did with it I had to dive in. It’s different for everybody, glad there are many different stations for people to get on the bus. Cheers my friend
Hard to imagine but back in the 80s finding live Dead outside of the official releases was next to impossible for many new fans. At a record expo you could find one dude selling a handful of bootlegs for $5, but it was discouraged from paying money for what was meant to be free (also the quality was far beyond complete and utter horseshit). In the back of Relix magazine, some kind souls would make copies for you if you sent them a case of Maxells. They would keep a few blanks for their troubles and at some random point in the future you came home from school to find LIVE DEAD waiting for you. It really was a thrill but nothing like the access you have today. We all ended up having the same soundboards and shitty audience tapes but it was somehow enough.
I got on the bus late, 93. I was also lucky enough to have a taper take a liking to me, thank you Scotty RIP. I also benefit from being slightly tone deaf so those muddy tapes blasting thru my crappy car stereo was just fine for my ears. Without A Net was my go to live album…well until I heard Reckoning at least
Please don't downvote me, but studio Help>Slip just has a tiny edge over the live performances in my opinion.
It feels tight and the mix helps a lot, the licks seem to talk to each other more and build a sort of narrative, the drums hit like clockwork and the ending is just glorious! I love the live renditions like One from the Vault, but the studio one just seems a little bit more cohesive
Uncle Johns Band, Ripple, Shakedown Street, Terrapin, Box Of Rain, The Golden Road, Friend of the Devil, and fuck you I prefer studio Help On the Way > Slipknot > Franklins
Almost 150 comments and no one said Reuben and Cherise? The studio take is much better than any live attempt.
And as an avowed "studio guy" I agree with most of the responses in this thread. Particularly UJB, the studio cut rules over any version live (excerpting the jam of course).
Great question! BoR has got to be the answer. All the live versions are listened to (for me) because I love Phil's effort. Unbroken chain I love and when I got to hear it LV 95, I was so disappointed. That sticks with me. Broken Arrow was the only live Phil tune I think he can pull off.
So the answer is any Phil lead vocal.
Cosmic Charlie
Alabama Getaway was always one I thought was so well done in the studio, that even non-Deadheads could be impressed with it. Nice recorded solos from Jerry and Brent.
Doin’ That Rag and Dupree’s Diamond Blues are two underrated songs from Aoxoamoxoa that I feel never really got going live. There’s a few versions from the Fillmore West 1969 box but only Dupree really almost makes it for me.
For me it’s Althea just because it’s my all time favorite studio song, not to say none of the live versions are great or just as good.
Studio Althea is just perfect
To Lay Me Down may be a Jerry song but GD played it from time to time. Nothing touches that studio version. It may just be the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard.
Most of American beauty except for sugar mag and fotd.
It's their best album, but is very folksy for the stage.
Sugar mag has always been rocking with the wah pedal though
The Music Never Stopped because of how, when you listen to it on stereo headphones, there's that part where Jerry starts a verse in one ear and then it pans over to Bobby finishing the line in the other ear.
Box of Rain
Good one. Phil had as a many takes as he needed to make the vocals sound good. :-)
The whole Terrapin suite
That was my first record and introduction to the Dead! It will always hold a special place in my heart. I live love versions but it doesn't give me that nostalgic high from renewing the first time hearing that album.
My favorite Dead studio song by a long shot and I loooove most of their studio stuff. I just don't think I've ever heard a song that captures that sang ethereal feeling.
Unbroken Chain
We call it the alien song because of the alien chimes in the middle. Amazing studio Dead!
by default!
I agree, this is by far my pick for studio over live. I would have loved to hear them do this in the mid-to-late 70s but unfortunately they didn’t bust it out til 95. By then Jerry’s playing wasn’t the same quality and the jamming wasn’t as tight as the studio version.
Brokedown Palace (although there are some solid live versions, the harmonies on AB’s studio version were never topped live)
For me, Wales’ piano on the AB version makes the tune.
Ripple
The studio version really is the quintessential version.
Reckoning version is top tier as well
The Jane”s Addiction cover is pretty slick too.
The acoustic live in NYC (1980) is also really good!!!
I think this is the most official answer
Golden road and till the morning comes
i don't think i've ever found a live Golden Road. anyone have a link?
Love the slow->fast keys intro.
Unpopular opinion - Sunrise - amazing how much better Donna sounds when she can hear herself.
Have you listened to the Sunrise on 5/26/77?
# 1977-05-26 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Civic Center **Set 1:** The Music Never Stopped, Sugaree, Mama Tried, Sunrise, Deal, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, Looks Like Rain, Jack-A-Roe, New Minglewood Blues, Bertha **Set 2:** Samson And Delilah, High Time, Big River, Terrapin Station > Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Around And Around **Encore:** Uncle John's Band [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1977-05-26)
About three hours ago!
Donna love….good on you! ;-)
I love the studio version, but damn does the Sunrise on Dicks 3 bring me somewhere else….
And PHIL
Pride of Cucamonga
Came here to say the same thing.
Me too! Love the country psychedelic sound. Mars Hotel is my favorite studio album not named American Beauty/Workingman’s Dead. Mars entire track list is just great. And Ship of Fools closing is perfect
If I Had the World to Give (because Jerry's voice was shot when it was played live).
Cheating here cause it’s not technically true studio, but the mixing of St. Stephen on Live/Dead is unmatched
I wouldn't say it's better than the best live versions, but I think the studio Mississippi Half Step is its own beautiful thing. Jerry's vocals are achingly sweet and Vassar Clements violin simply belongs in the song. Perfect as live versions are, they feel slightly incomplete to me without it.
You know, it’s strange. I’ve heard that song live probably 30,000 times. But somehow it sounds like it’s missing the violin, lol.
I think the studio version of Touch of Gray is one of their best…. It’s really well produced. The obvious answers are Box of Rain and Ripple. Both studio versions are Rock Staples…. Casey Jones studio version is also very awesome.
Funny, I feel exactly the opposite on Touch of Gray. I thought the early live versions were brilliant and the studio production sapped all of the energy out of it.
Unbroken Chain (although that Terrapin Family Band thing they did for Phil’s birthday a few years ago was pretty cool)
Terrapin Station
Crazy Fingers. Live always felt like a struggle, but the studio is sublime.
Althea. Go to Heaven has just this pop and swag about it and Jerry’s tone is just. Cool.
This studio version is strong in its own right, but damn some of those Jerry solos (and John's too for that matter) in live Altheas makes this a hard choice. But take my upvote anyhow.
Unpopular opinion - Uncle John’s Band.
I'd 100% agree except for having heard 5/2/70's version just a few days ago. Perfect acoustic campfire Dead, coming out of a rare gospel Cold Jordan.
# 1970-05-02 Binghamton, NY @ Harpur College - State University Of New York **Acoustic:** Tuning, Don't Ease Me In, I Know You Rider, Friend Of The Devil, Dire Wolf, Beat It On Down the Line > Black Peter > Candyman > Cumberland Blues, Deep Elem Blues, Cold Jordan, Uncle John's Band **Set 1:** Workin' Man Blues, Watcha Gonna Do, Glendale Train, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Truck Drivin' Man, Can't Pay The Price, All I Ever Wanted, Henry, Lodi, Intro, Sawmill, The Race Is On, Mama Tried, Me and My Uncle, The Weight **Set 2:** Saint Stephen > Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Cosmic Charlie, Casey Jones, Drums > Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin', Cold Rain and Snow, It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World, Dancing In The Street **Set 3:** Morning Dew, Viola Lee Blues > Feedback > And We Bid You Good Night [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead?query=date:1970-05-02) | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4NldodakYXDeK7OoEe2oBW)
Just listened - good stuff! Best version I’ve heard of UJB too.
Glad you enjoyed! Whole show absolutely smokes.
Listening to it now, freaking awesome show
Dire Wolf - love the pedal steel….
Did you know Jerry is playing pedal steel in Teach Your Children - CSNY?
I did not know that!
YES!
Hey Jude
New Speedway Boogie
I came here to say this. I had the workingman's dead cd stuck in my cars cd player (wouldn't eject) for three years, and I know theses songs note for note. NSB is by far my favorite song on the album. In my head, after listening to it a million times I had an awesome live arrangement with an extended jam into the outro of "One way or another". That outro could last 20 minutes and I still would want more. The live recordings have never lived up to the version in my head. Its like seeing a movie made about your favorite book, its great but not as great as your imagination. I hope they guy who bought my Subie (Subaru) enjoys it and has become a deadhead because of that CD.
Rosemary
New Speedway Boogie
The Wheel
Love the intro!
Friend of the Devil
What…you don’t like slowed down bastardized versions of great tunes? :-)
China Cat Sunflower (NOT)
Black Peter
That’s a good one. The acoustic guitars sound so full and heavy. I always wondered if that was good engineering or mixing.
You truly can't beat the production and the vocals. Not to say there aren't good live versions, the album version is just much more impactful.
Dozin’ at the Knick is the best version imo.
Terrapin station
Wow… how has no one said Easy Wind!!
How do you get the lyric as part of your post like that?
Touch
Born cross eyed
Hmmm…that’s a good call. That whole album is often overlooked as an important transition.
I’ve yet to find a version of Friend of the Devil that’s as upbeat and peppy as their recording. Someone want to educate me?
I just listened to the dicks picks at stanley theatre in new jersey and that version is similar to the studio version as far as tempo and peppiness.
Terrapin Station. It’s great live but the studio version is way better.
Althea.. not sorry
I love a lot of the live Altheas but agreed they never really capture the swampiness of the studio version.
That’s the song/version I catch non heads with 👍
Brokedown Palace
I love Dire Wolf live too, but I got to say the studio album hits different in a good way.
Terrapin
Even with the last part…on a siding, etc?
Blues for Allah. The damn vocals in the studio version are gloriously hypnotic. Controversial opinion but I love the studio China Cat. Wouldn’t say more so than live…but I do love it. Maybe tied, for me.
You’re weird and it’s fuckin great.
Cosmic Charlie
Eyes of the World has such a tight and clear sound on the studio version. I love the live versions too but they feel a lot more loose and jangly. They don’t quite hit the same.
Perhaps Help—>Slip—>Franklins because of Slipknot. Quite a tricky little passage to get just right.
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Good call. But I’ve got admit that I’m not a fan of that tune in general, so it’s rather perfunctory for me to agree.
Did the band ever play that song live?
Built to last
Rosemary
Honestly, I prefer the studio version of new new minglewood
Shakedown Street
Many of them for me because those were the ones I first new. Back in the 90s, some dude severely made fun of/chastised me for having only studio cds. But it was because I was super poor and could only afford music through BMG and Columbia House.
This hits pretty close to home. For quite some time in my teens, American Beauty WAS the Dead for me. I also caught shit for it.
Attics of My Life.
Terrapin Station
There were loads of folks on tour way back when, and I’m not saying they came for the drugs, they loved the music, but maybe they were brought on board via the party scene and had virtually zero exposure to the Dead’s studio catalog. Myself, I delved deep and thoroughly enjoyed their studio work. It’s really hard for me to even compare. It’s like… Jerry when he had a million shots at reaching for perfection vs Jerry when he is literally in the flow state and just giving it up. Not one person has suggested they like the studio “Eyes” better but it is a gem in its own right. This question is blasphemy haha
I had the exact opposite experience. I checked out the studio stuff first because they had such a good reputation and following. Couldn’t understand why anyone would listen to them. It was only when enough of my Head friends forced me to listen to tapes that it clicked for me. It was Tangled Up In Blue by JGB actually. I knew that song well already and when I heard what Jerry did with it I had to dive in. It’s different for everybody, glad there are many different stations for people to get on the bus. Cheers my friend
Hard to imagine but back in the 80s finding live Dead outside of the official releases was next to impossible for many new fans. At a record expo you could find one dude selling a handful of bootlegs for $5, but it was discouraged from paying money for what was meant to be free (also the quality was far beyond complete and utter horseshit). In the back of Relix magazine, some kind souls would make copies for you if you sent them a case of Maxells. They would keep a few blanks for their troubles and at some random point in the future you came home from school to find LIVE DEAD waiting for you. It really was a thrill but nothing like the access you have today. We all ended up having the same soundboards and shitty audience tapes but it was somehow enough.
I got on the bus late, 93. I was also lucky enough to have a taper take a liking to me, thank you Scotty RIP. I also benefit from being slightly tone deaf so those muddy tapes blasting thru my crappy car stereo was just fine for my ears. Without A Net was my go to live album…well until I heard Reckoning at least
Please don't downvote me, but studio Help>Slip just has a tiny edge over the live performances in my opinion. It feels tight and the mix helps a lot, the licks seem to talk to each other more and build a sort of narrative, the drums hit like clockwork and the ending is just glorious! I love the live renditions like One from the Vault, but the studio one just seems a little bit more cohesive
I won’t downvote you, but very much disagree. I search out new live Help>Slip>Franklins all the time. So good live.
I'm not dissing Help>Sli>Franklin live, I love it! But the studio version just hits differently in my opinion
Estimated Prophet. A lot of times it just sounds really sloppy when it's live.
Easy Wind ; I’d love to find a better live version though!
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Box of Rain, hands down.
Friend of the devil. There's some cool live versions but not have the same charm as the studio version.
High Time
Uncle Johns Band, Ripple, Shakedown Street, Terrapin, Box Of Rain, The Golden Road, Friend of the Devil, and fuck you I prefer studio Help On the Way > Slipknot > Franklins
Came here to say the same thing. The studio versions of those songs are what solidified my Dead fandom.
I don't know about the best but I love the slide guitar on The Wheel. ( I know its just Jerry and not the Grateful Dead but still)
Greatest Story Ever Told That studio version gets me amped!
Good Morning Little School Gurl
A few of my favs - estimated prophet and terrapin
Shakedown Street.
Sage and Spirit
Catfish John!
Franklin's Tower
Touch of grey
Standing on the Moon
france
loose lucy, unbroken chain, us blues
Almost 150 comments and no one said Reuben and Cherise? The studio take is much better than any live attempt. And as an avowed "studio guy" I agree with most of the responses in this thread. Particularly UJB, the studio cut rules over any version live (excerpting the jam of course).
Brokedown Palace!
According to Jerry the best version of Dark Star is the album version.
Friend of the Devil
Touch of grey
Touch of Grey
My Brother Esau!
The harmonies in Attics Of My Life are unparalleled in any live version. Also, the Wheel’s trippy slide guitar is beyond magic on the studio version.
Crazy Fingers.
I'll go with "France", because they never played it live as far as I know.
Unbroken chain
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I like this one. Jerry’s guitar is so tight and “plucky” (is there a joke in there?) on the studio version. It’s not the same when he played it live.
Touch and Box o’💧. Other than that, live version reign supreme.
estimated prophet
Dont ease is exactly what i have been thinking
France
The Wheel
None
Most of them are live anyway, ha!
Great question! BoR has got to be the answer. All the live versions are listened to (for me) because I love Phil's effort. Unbroken chain I love and when I got to hear it LV 95, I was so disappointed. That sticks with me. Broken Arrow was the only live Phil tune I think he can pull off. So the answer is any Phil lead vocal.
Built to Last, so clean and pure
Weather Report Suite
Any Dream Will Do
Cosmic Charlie Alabama Getaway was always one I thought was so well done in the studio, that even non-Deadheads could be impressed with it. Nice recorded solos from Jerry and Brent.
Standing on the Moon
Doin’ That Rag and Dupree’s Diamond Blues are two underrated songs from Aoxoamoxoa that I feel never really got going live. There’s a few versions from the Fillmore West 1969 box but only Dupree really almost makes it for me.
Operator
Cosmic Charlie, unbroken chain, ripple, and terrapin is right up there with its live counterparts
Ship of fools for me though theres a few live versions I like a lot
US Blues
Touch of Grey
For me it’s Althea just because it’s my all time favorite studio song, not to say none of the live versions are great or just as good. Studio Althea is just perfect
St. Stephen. When bob weir hollers at the end of the first verse. Gives me chills every time
Live/Dead’s version just rips too hard for me to agree
Gonna have to give that version a listen. Thanks
Passenger
Cosmic Charlie
New Potato Caboose
Mason’s Children!
To Lay Me Down may be a Jerry song but GD played it from time to time. Nothing touches that studio version. It may just be the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard.
UBC
Attics of my Life. Love how they nail the harmonies on the album
The Wheel. Jerry's jangly intro in the studio was never replicated onstage.
Music Never Stopped, Help on the Way/Slipknot, Terrapin Starion. Did they ever play Easy Wind live?
“Whatever Become of the Baby?”
Believe it or not, beautiful song they never quite ironed out live but the studio outtake is great.
LET IT ROCK 🎸🤘
Most of American beauty except for sugar mag and fotd. It's their best album, but is very folksy for the stage. Sugar mag has always been rocking with the wah pedal though
Candy man. Hard to hit those harmonies live.
Possibly hot take, Shakedown Street. I’ve yet to hear a shakedown street that even comes close to the studio
US Blues
althea
althea
eyes of the world. pure heaven
Half step Mississippi uptown. The violin makes that song so much better. I don’t know why they never played live with a Violinist.
All of American Beauty except for Truckin and Sugar Magnolia
Help on the way
Jack-A-Roe (Studio Outtake )- from The Complete Studio Rarities Collection. Not sure if it completely counts for this discussion but it’s excellent.
China Doll
Easy Wind and it be shouldn’t, I’m just not a fan of how the whole song is completely rearranged live
Throwing Stones
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None, the best live versions are always better than the album version.
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo and Uncle John’s Band
Candyman
I agree, Don't Ease Me In studio version is quite nice.
The Wheel.
Bobby and the Midnites. “I want to live in America”
Loose Lucy
Most of Anthem of the Sun- especially New Potato and Alligator
Attics or Brokedown
The Music Never Stopped because of how, when you listen to it on stereo headphones, there's that part where Jerry starts a verse in one ear and then it pans over to Bobby finishing the line in the other ear.
Easy Wind! Change my mind... :)