# Best Grateful Dead song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124 "2005-12-05T03:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/21 "2005-12-05T13:21:33Z")
Well, the one that caught mainstream attention in the 80’s was **Touch of Gray** (or is it Grey?), so maybe people would recognize that. While my favorite Dead ‘quickie’ is **Jack Straw** , I’d ask the person I’m trying to convert what they like. I’m sure I could find a Dead song they can relate to. My personal conversion came about from side 1 of **Anthem of The Sun**. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/22 "2005-12-05T13:27:26Z")
Ah…the Dead. I never gave them a second thought until I met my college boyfriend. I guess I like most of the songs on the album _American Beauty_ . That would include _Ripple_ and _Box of Rain_ which were mentioned. I also like _Friend of the Devil_ because it mentions Reno. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/23 "2005-12-05T14:29:06Z")
Maybe not the best of theirs, but I love _Mexicali Blues_. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/24 "2005-12-05T14:41:47Z")
I love _Me and My Uncle_, but since it wasn’t written by the Dead, it’s hard for me to call it the best **Grateful Dead** song. That standard would rule out _Know You Rider_ and _Morning Dew_ as well. Inasmuch as “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty” are my favorite Dead albums, I’d go with _Uncle John’s Band_ from the former and _Sugar Magnolia_ from the latter. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/25 "2005-12-05T14:59:18Z")
I have to admit that \*\*Hell In A Bucket \*\* is one of my favorites, but \*\*Sugar Magnolia \*\* is my ringtone. (The only one I’ve ever bought.) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/26 "2005-12-05T16:29:41Z")
> [@Suburban Plankton](#): > > So how does _American Beauty_ not rank as one of the top 5 albms of all time? Because all the media outlets that bother to make ‘best of’ round-up lists tend to be dominated by punk rock snobs who insist that the Velvet Underground were the apex of creative brilliance in western music. (feh!) Anyway, my personal favs: long rock & roll jam medley- “Not Fade Away / Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” early bluesy jam - “Smokestack Lightning” (Ron “Pigpen” McKernan - most under-rated, unsung classic rock god of them all) tight under-5 minute song - “Jack Straw” dance song - “Bertha” psychedelic song - “China Cat Sunflower” ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/27 "2005-12-05T18:08:10Z")
Unbroken Chain deserves a mention ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/28 "2005-12-05T18:09:47Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Anyway, my personal favs: > > long rock & roll jam medley- “Not Fade Away / Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” > early bluesy jam - “Smokestack Lightning” (Ron “Pigpen” McKernan - most under-rated, unsung classic rock god of them all) > tight under-5 minute song - “Jack Straw” > dance song - “Bertha” > psychedelic song - “China Cat Sunflower” Artie…thought you were an Importer/exporer :smack: guessn’ i was wrong… :eek: Anyway…nice list! Close to mine \*but \*my FAVORITE was always the song i was seing LIVE… I only had 85 Dead shows with jerry but was lucky enough to catch the LAST 6…Dang did the Fatman rock at the June show in Pittsburg 1995…damn shame about the fence crashing @ Deer Creek :dubious: My List: long rock & roll jam medley-TIE …_Help/Slip/Franklin_ or _Scarlet fire_ with _“Not Fade Away / Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad”_ coming in a close third early bluesy jam - “Smokestack Lightning” As ArtV said _Ron “Pigpen” McKernan - most under-rated, unsung classic rock god of them all"_…Add _Love Light_ to this list! tight under-5 minute song - _Jack Straw_ dance song - _Aiko,Aiko/Women are Smarter_ psychedelic song - _DarkStar_ (although it is not on my favorite list) I’ll add a catagory… Bathroom Break song…_Row Jimmy Row_ Go figure a “DeadThread” would be my first post … 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/29 "2005-12-05T18:14:10Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Artie…thought you were an Importer/exporer Go figure, my second post would be correcting my spelling error…uhhh I meant Importer/Exporter 😉 ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/30 "2005-12-05T18:31:06Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > I’ll add a catagory… > > Bathroom Break song…_Row Jimmy Row_ > > Go figure a “DeadThread” would be my first post … 🆒 A-fuckin’-men. They’d start “Row” and I’d head for the exit. Got to beat the mad rush. Favorite Show Opener: **Help/Slip/Frank** ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/31 "2005-12-05T18:37:35Z")
I guess I’d better go with _Wharf Rat_ because of my s/n, but my favorite Dead tune changes every week or so. Right now it’s a toss-up between _Black Muddy River_ and Pigpen singing _Hurts Me Too_ ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/32 "2005-12-05T19:01:53Z")
_Throwing Stones_, hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/33 "2005-12-05T19:15:37Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Because all the media outlets that bother to make ‘best of’ round-up lists tend to be dominated by punk rock snobs who insist that the Velvet Underground were the apex of creative brilliance in western music. (feh!) That and the singing. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/34 "2005-12-05T19:25:56Z")
Punk-rock snob checking in. I was a hippie-type back in the late '80s, until I realized I don’t believe in all that free love and pacifism; I just liked dope and braless hippie chicks. Anyway, I’d pick “Dupree’s Diamond Blues” and “One More Saturday Night.” Is that what that one’s called? About seeing the great fiery sign in the heavens saying there’s a party on Saturday? Love that one. “Ripple” is great too. Oh, and “The Monkey and the Engineer.” But I don’t think they wrote that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/35 "2005-12-05T20:00:28Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > A-fuckin’-men. They’d start “Row” and I’d head for the exit. Got to beat the mad rush. Aw, man. I remember many really _really_ nice 2nd set “Row Jimmies” from the late '80s where they interjected a devilish boogie/reggae rhythm stop shuffle into the jam. I _loved_ those “Row Jimmies.” “Stella Blue,” on the other hand, made me cut and run for the crappers. I always looked forward to a 1st set “Cold Rain and Snow” and an encore “Quinn the Eskimo,” although they didn’t write either of those. For originals, I’ll have to go with either “They Love Each Other” or “Althea.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/36 "2005-12-05T20:54:37Z")
This really brings me back. Fun times, great friends. I’m going to go with _Sugar Mag_ which is kind of a boring pick. There are quite a few that are better songs but _Sugar Magnolia_ epitomizes the Dead for me for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/37 "2005-12-05T21:32:35Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > Aw, man. I remember many really _really_ nice 2nd set “Row Jimmies” from the late '80s where they interjected a devilish boogie/reggae rhythm stop shuffle into the jam. I _loved_ those “Row Jimmies.” > > “Stella Blue,” on the other hand, made me cut and run for the crappers. I didn’t really mind either, though neither are personal favs or anything. It was during the last few years when every encore was either _US Blues_ (which I like, _on occassion_) or _I fought the Law_ that I started skipping out early. Getting back to the OP, I have so many favorites that this is nearly impossible. First song I reach for when grabbing the acoustic: **Eyes of the World** Best Set (and album) Opener: **Help\>Slip\>Frank** (Actually, I’m just realizing that I have a “fav something” for nearly every track on _Blues for Allah_) Best jump-outta-your-seat-and-dance song: **The Music Never Stopped** Best beautiful instrumental: **Sage and Spirit** Best rockin’ instrumental jam in an odd meter: **King Solomon’s Marbles** or **The Eleven** And a special nod to **Crazy Fingers** which I love but can’t find a best\_\_\_\_\_ for. Best studio masterpiece: **Terrapin Station** (with a special nod to **Sunrise** ). Also, side one of **Anthem…** is a favorite \ though I’m not quite sure what. It was really the first thing I’d heard by the Dead (aside from the few tracks that make it onto the classic rock radio stations) and something about it sounds other-worldly. I think it’s one of the most interesting studio recordings. I gotta go work, but man I can ramble on forever about the Dead. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/38 "2005-12-05T21:55:20Z")
Another vote for “Box of Rain” and “Brokedown Palace”. I also have always liked “Dire Wolf” a lot and “Workingman’s Blues”. Haven’t really been a Dead fan since the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/39 "2005-12-05T21:58:08Z")
> [@Godfrey Daniels](#): > > Another vote for “Box of Rain” and “Brokedown Palace”. I also have always liked “Dire Wolf” a lot and “Workingman’s Blues”. Haven’t really been a Dead fan since the '70s. That should be “Cumberland Blues”, Melinda… from Workingman’s Dead ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124/40 "2005-12-05T22:15:31Z")
“Casey Jones” for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-grateful-dead-song/334124.md?page=3)