halleluhjah this thread, thanks version!
almost started a JA vs Dead matchup poll just for the windup, but then thought better..
after going thru the so-so studio albums, and only really being interested in about half of live/dead, they finally properly clicked with europe '72 (actually also 'skull and roses' live set from '71.) then the whole internet archive / youtube thing opened up. internet age is great for the dead, you can get to all the superior and massively abundant live stuff without being part of the ole hippy tape networks. and yes, it's harder fro brits. all you hear about is live/dead, am beauty, working mans' d, and a load of cliches about dh's and parking lot culture. but now i also know who betty cantor is.
so first dip of toe in thread with this fab 'cumberland blues' from europe '72 triple set.
sounding like a bluegrass band obsessed with 'bitches' brew' or somthin
keith godchaux riding swirlingly under jerry g's lines is so great, phil doing his melodic gamboling lamb thing, hopping about adding watery blots of colour, weir tightening everything up with that itching just-skank rhythm guitar...
the sheer surge and joy of those instru passages..
garrulously chattering yet making room for each other, the through-and-around playing, the audible sorting-out of personalities, the playful drift to ineffable 'click', but unity never too easily held together in advance. they're kinda the greatest band of all time, really.