Before getting to today’s post I wanted to share a quick update. I solicited a few guest blog posts recently and I’m pleased to report that I have received two contributions. They’ll be appearing over the next couple of weeks, so keep your eyes and ears open for those when they come out. Hooray for variety!
Although I occasionally delve into studio tracks these pages are primarily dedicated to live performances. There are a couple of reasons why it’s taken me 243 days to opt for my first Box of Rain. For one, this is a song where the studio version was so good that live renditions rarely were up to snuff. The other reason is that in the past few years I’ve heard too many warbling versions of Phil belting this out on Sirius XM that I’ve been turned off from the song. I know, blasphemy!
The latest Dave’s Picks (Vol. 11) changed that. I pay for regular shipping so I often read reviews by other who get their copy of Dead releases before I do. And let me tell you, folks were singing the praises of this Box of Rain from the word Go! Given my apathy toward Box of Rain lately I was skeptical. But then I actually listened to the song. Simply put – wow!
So give it a whirl for yourself and see how this version strikes you.
fantastic Box of Rain! I have also been jaded from this song but your review is spot on. Even Donna is on Key 😉
Finally! A Phil song, or I should say a Phil sung song since Passenger has been featured before if I remember correctly. I really enjoy what Donna adds to these early versions of Box and can only imagine how great this song would have sounded in 76 or 77 when she was at her peak.
Box of Rain was the first set opener at my first show and the last song at my last show (Jerry’s last show).
Four months left of Deadforayear or is it five? Here’s hoping for another Phil song or two before it’s all done.
I didn’t want to do the studio version and there weren’t any live versions of Box of Rain that struck my fancy until I heard this one. Gimme Some Lovin’ is kind of a Phil-sung tune, right? I’ll keep Phil songs in mind, it’s just there aren’t a ton of them that are also good performances, IMO. But I’ll keep an ear out!