Grateful Dead Music Forum

1974-06-26, this show has without a doubt the BEST Chinacat>Rider ever! You just have to hear it, it starts off as a Dark Star-like jam before moving into a spacey Chinacat, then the UJB jam and Rider to follow, naturally. Its just great!

sarraqum wrote:without a doubt the BEST

That's a true great, however I have always been very partial to the hot transition jams from 11/14/1973 and 9/8/1973... a post-retirement one that is bursting with the most amazing incredible Jerry-riffic energy is 10/12/1981 (check out the Estimated>GDTRFB from that show too...whew!!!)

6-26-74 (DP12) China/Rider is my fav too. Mostly because of the intro jam. Check out 5-17-74 and 5-19-74 as well. Hell, just about any 72-74 version will do ya good. I think that little jam in the middle needs a new name becuase it's neither a Feelin' groovy or UJB jam but snippets of both as well as other stuff too.

tigerstrat wrote: however I have always been very partial to the hot transition jams

AMEN! I love the transitions when they all come in with power at the same time and don't keep repeating it until everyone is on board.

Yea I love that little jam at the intro too. It doesn't mean it has the very hottest of all the transitions, but it's definitely a bonafide true ass-kickin 72-74 C>R. I haven't found that giddy extended intro anywhere else.

Ah yes, the first time I was hearing it I was telling myself that this one is going to go into Dark Star, some sort of a hybrid maybe, they'll change the key anytime now and everyone who thought they are hearing the beginning of chinacat are gonna be had. But no, I was the one who've been had, but still...

ive been listening to a lot of the Europe 72 shows lately.

out of the songs that made it to the album, there are definantly better versions out there.

ive listened to a few versions of chinacat today, that, if givin the HDCD treatment, would without a doubt blow away the version that appreared on the eurupe 72

My favorite at the moment would have to be the one from 9-11-73. In fact that whole show is awesome if you ask me. The Halfstep toodeloo in that is nasty. Awesome loser. Let it grow with some sax action. You should check it out.

It seems like late 1973 was a great time for China>Rider jams. I personally love the one from 11-11-1973.

Oh yeah that's sweet. Nice show. I've found a streaming version. Where is the best place to download shows? I want to be able to jam to this on my long ride to Bama tomorrow. Thanks, E