Best Grateful Dead recording?

1. Dick's Picks Vol. 1
2. DP's Vol. 13
3. So Many Roads-Box Set
4. Workingman's Dead
5. DP's-Harpur College-Sorry, I forget the Vol. #

It's impossible to limit this list to 5, especially with the Dick's Picks series. The vast majority of DP's I have yet to hear, so I've got a lot of discovering to do myself.
Have fun and be prepared to hear some incredible music!

I have ALL the Dick's Pick's and almost every Dead CD. The BEAR recording always seem to have that little something extra that just sounds "cooler"! Although I LOVE the music, some of the Dick's Pick's sound really "weird" (that's a technical term)---> the sound may be crisp and clear but there is no depth at all.

Check out Katie Mae on Bear's Coice (HDCD version); could be my favorite. Pigpen's voice sends a friggin shiver down my spine everytime I hear it. My wife is like, "why do you always listen to that same song"? Turn it up really loud and listen to the sounds you hear in the corners of your soundstage.

The question specifically asked for Dead recording. However, for sound quality the Grateful Dawg recordings are simply THE best "Dead" recordings out there hands down (for sound)!

I have not yet heard that Filmore recording, but I may go buy it right now.

Oh yeah, check out www.NUGS.net for some really good shows!!

Enjoy!

Kevins,
Go buy it! I'm right now listening to the slice from 4/28, Dark Star>St. Stephen>NFA>Goin' Down the Road>NFA, that St Stephen is in my opinion the best ever!

I was thinking about this thread on my drive home from work and wanted to add my top 5 (Dead and/or Jerry Band):

1. American Beauty - this was the first Dead I ever heard. I was listening to Box of Rain and thought to myself...now I get it! It's my sentimental #1 and it sounds insane!
2. Jerry Garcia Band - the 1990 shows. It's the ARISTA double CD in the grey trimmed case. This baby sounds rediculous!
3. Dick's Dick's Vol 24 Daly City - the wall of sound did not make for quality recordings (no bottom end in the voices ), but man this is a cool show.
5. The rest of Dick's Picks are all tied for #5. Once you fall in love with the music, the sound doesn't matter anymore! Remember when all we had were cassette tapes?

Maybe one day we'll get a Dick's Picks on DVD-A or SACD?
PS. I'm all over that Fillmore show Jond!