There is only one extant show from this day, and it includes a sweet LL Rain, Candyman, and Stagger Lee in the first. A rocking Scarlet out of the break that has a ferocious jam, which finally gives way to a relentless, searching Fire highlight the second. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-22-1978

A ridiculous Alligator has the old beast strutting next to you. And that heads into a face-melting Caution, eventually devolving into what has to be one of the best Feedback Jams ever; this thing is downright mesmerizing with serious seismic, freak-out activity. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-21-1968

This recording is clipped, but it includes a phenomenal first-ever Mountains of the Moon, a tasty Eleven, and a stellar Lovelight with Pig alternating between wailing, talk-singing, and flat-out rapping as the boys throw in some smoking jams. Listen now! gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-20-1968

The Dead played a short acoustic set on the way to their classic 1970 format and debuted Monkey and the Engineer, Mason's Children, and others. A Pig-fronted Good Lovin', transcendent acid-laced Other One Suite, and a 30-plus minute Lovelight to close it all out. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-19-1969

In arguably the best show of '73, Bobby and Phil push Jerry throughout the night, creating some fabulous interplay on the Weather Report Suite and Eyes. There is also a jazzy Dark Star, smooth China> Rider, and rare Jed opener, among the many other highlights. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-18-1973

This show is the final, and best, evening of the band’s first three-night return run after Jerry's coma. The Ship of Fools, He's Gone, and Black Peter - "one more day, I find myself alive" - here are deeply emotional, as is the beautiful Brokedown encore. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-17-1986

The boys seem bent on stuffing in as many runs and jams as possible, laying it out on every tune, not least the early Stagger Lee. The 2nd half gets rolling with a smoking Scarlet> Fire and includes a monster He's Gone, elemental Other One, and spacious Wharf Rat. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-16-1978

The boys open the second set with a brilliant Dark Star, which heads into a mellow, yet searingly groovy Deal. Much of the remainder of the set is built around a monstrous, down and dirty Lovelight, the fifth to last and final truly exceptional Pig-fronted one. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-15-1971

In late '71, the Dead had Pig’s vocal power and stage presence and Keith’s heady, increasingly explorative keys. In this crucible, the boys birthed the sound that would be refined into quintessential Europe ’72 magic. No doubt, December of ’71 was a special time. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-14-1971

A Bruce-heavy Jack Straw, seriously jammed out Sugaree, and fabulous, barn-burner of a Valley Road highlight the 1st. And a scintillating Help> Slip> Franklin's, insatiable Eyes, apocalyptic Other One> Morning Dew, and sweet Box of Rain closer power the 2nd. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-13-1990

Just days after John Lennon’s death, the Dead took an Estimated into a monumental He’s Gone. There was nary a dry eye - including Jerry's - at the Swing as the boys sent up a poignant, deeply emotional rendition. And the rest of the show is as heady as they come. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-12-1980

Check out the awesome 1st set He's Gone alongside Box of Rain and China> Rider, before a rapturous 20-minute Playin'. The majestic 2nd set is crowned by a lucid, effervescent 35-minute Dark Star that on a funky off-kilter jam into a deeply moving Stella. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-11-1972

Pig lets loose on Good Lovin', leaving just enough room for Jerry to screech off on a few tasty jams while Phil bombs away. And Phil and Billy lead the way into a forceful Other One that jazzily segues into Sittin' on Top of the World before coming back to TOO. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-10-1971

Jerry lights it up all night, laying down some serious jams on top of Vince and Bruce's insatiable keys and the drummers' pounding beat. The highlight may be the Scarlet> Fire that opens the second set, but the same could be said about nearly the entire show. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-09-1990

The Dead let loose a lighthearted Let the Good Times Roll out of the gate and, boy, do they ever. An earnest, rocking Blow Away, stratospheric Help> Slip> Franklin's, house of horrors Other One, and Jerry-led He's Gone are just some of the many highlights. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-08-1989

There might not be any massive jams, but with Pig back in the fold and Keith firing, this show delivers. Check out the insane Smokestack Lightning, stupendous Cold Rain and Snow, and all the other finely tuned magic at Grateful Dead of the Day: gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-07-1971

The Dead played am arguably best-ever 45-minute Dark Star. But what occasionally gets lost in all the discussion of the Dark Star is that the rest of the show is top-shelf material, including the Eyes> Stella that flows out the back end of that monster DS. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-06-1973

A roaring Alabama Getaway to start, Elvis-like speed in the latter half of CC Rider, and a brilliant Bird Song> Let It Grow rocks the 1st. And a sensational Shakedown, spooky Space rising into The Wheel all sandwiched in Playin', and stunning Stella top the 2nd. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-05-1981

The Dead played first, stunning Black Peter and inaugural Uncle John's. They also sent a beatific Dark Star and acidy China Cat, brimming over with TC's organ and leading to a folky yet psychedelic Rider. Pig also gets down and dirty on Schoolgirl and Good Lovin'. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-04-1969

With a snowstorm raging outside the Dane, a rare and funky electric Deep Elem, a sweet Althea, and a sensational TLEO, all warmed up the first set before the second half got positively scorching with Scarlet> Fire> Estimated> He's Gone. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-03-1981

Stella and Wharf Rat are in the same set, which is rare indeed and so sweet. But there is so much more, including a raging end to the 1st with Big River, Deal, and WRS. But the real crux is the meaty center of the 2nd: Playin'> Mind Left Body> He's Gone> Truckin'. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-02-1973

Phil is positively seismic, Jerry is blistering, and Keith's keys are tantalizing throughout the amazing Other One suite that highlights this show. But the Dead were always more than the sum of their parts, and that is what places this beyond all superlatives. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/12-01-1971

Coming off their lengthy runs at Radio City and the Warfield, the boys were firing on all cylinders, playing silky smooth and, characteristically, out of their minds all night, including on one of the best Scarlet> Fires of all time. Listen now! gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-30-1980

While Early Morning Rain, the last Stealin', Something on Your Mind, and the other rarities are a real trip, it is the familiar tunes that are the barn burners, including Cold Rain and Snow, Viola Lee, and an addled, acid-laced first-ever Me and My Uncle. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-29-1966

There are two shows on this day in Dead history - one in 1968 and another in 1970 - but neither have recordings on Archive. Without a show to give you from this day, we point you to a couple classics. Fire up some tasty nugs and explore the archive! gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-27-1970

An inventive, moody Althea kicked the music into high gear. Among other highlights, Brent asserted himself on a milky, cosmic Cold Rain and Snow; the drummers backed a heady, churning Eyes; and a magisterially down and out Wharf Rat rose out of Space. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-26-1980

The band unleashes an epic, funked-up, disco-strong Shakedown. Hamza el Din joins on the Drums that follows, taking it into Ollin Arageed, which, in its 3rd stateside appearance, hits its absolute apotheosis before the dankest opening to Fire On The Mountain. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-24-1978

The Dead only played the city of El Paso once. And Bobby did not pass up the chance to play El Paso, which the crowd met with jubilant cheers. But the lovely playing - especially He's Gone> Truckin'> Other One> Me and Bobby McGee - outshines even that cool moment. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-23-1973

A fiery Hell in a Bucket, effervescent Althea, beautiful Sugaree, and face-melting Let It Grow all highlight the 1st set. Later, a monster, inventive Estimated, rich with Healey effects, leads the way into a tasty Eyes before a powerful Dew and lovely Brokedown. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-22-1985

An awesome Here Comes Sunshine and WRS are the standouts of a stacked 1st set. But the 2nd is something else entirely. With Playin' woven throughout, the boys take Dark Star into an unsuspecting Wharf Rat, a steamy Truckin', and mournful, yet so heady Morning Dew. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-21-1973

Bobby was under the weather, provoking a 24-minute jam to open the second set while the rhythm guitarist threw up backstage. Despite the illness, the night scorched, including on a memorable If I Had the World to Give. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-20-1978

While there is a certain inalienable core, each tune is mesmerizingly different, from the acidy, kaleidoscopic blues of Hi Heeled Sneakers to Jerry's most gnarly surf guitar on Cream Puff War to a proto-punk Smokestack Lightning and Pig's rapping on Midnight Hour. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-19-1966

The Playin' is blistering, never letting up with jam after jam in rapid-fire succession. So fiery, the tune is almost exhausting. Steel yourself and rock to the Playin' and the rest of the extant music from the night at Grateful Dead of the Day: gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-18-1972

The Dead played six shows over the years at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, including this incendiary classic. Take in the unbelievable Playin’> UJB> Morning Dew> UJB> Playin’, beautiful Stella, and amazing Eyes, all before a steamy Sugar Mags takes it out. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-17-1973

Keith kills it in the first set, especially in his brilliant solo on TLEO. And the set is capped by a disco-fied Dancin' and raucous Deal. A sweet Scarlet> Fire starts the latter half, but the vocal vamping on He's Gone and righteous Black Peter lurk as well. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-16-1978

With a first set Dark Star> El Paso, the boys were rocking. The 2nd half is all the equal with a beautiful Brokedown, lovely Me And Bobby McGee, and fiery Cumberland. But it's the NFA sammy, with a China Cat jam and GDTRFB filler, that is the real frothing crux. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-15-1971

A steamy Truckin' sets up a groovy jazz jam into the Other One, righteous and sublime before rising to Big River and back into the dark ether of TOO. Then a short, sweet Eyes launches before a final Other One charges into the deep recesses of the universe. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-14-1973

Dark Star goes through several different moods, all perfectly resplendent before a Philo Stomp ushers in a withering jam before Jerry lets loose the ringing opening notes of Morning Dew, and we are off again on another amazing ride, this one beatifically haunting. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-13-1972

Here in one of his earliest shows with the Dead, Keith plays wide open, ranging and romping. And the band is right alongside, delivering sweet headiness at every turn - check out the Sugaree, Jed, and Black Peter - and tearing it up on the Other One suite. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-12-1971

The crux of the show is an epic Dark Star> Mind Left Body> Eyes> China Doll. The Dark Star is mind-meltingly cosmic with that righteously groovy Mind Left Body Jam entering into a jazz-driven Eyes before the breathtaking, heartrending China Doll comes forth. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-11-1973

This here is fine primal magic from LA, starting with a raggedly perfect Viola Lee. Schoolgirl will blow your mind, the Other One is just the 3rd ever, and there's an epic Alligator> Drums> Alligator> Caution> Feedback. And don't miss Jerry's hysterical banter. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-10-1967

A transcendent China> Rider right before the set-closing, 21-minute Playin' highlight the 1st half. The 2nd gets steamy out of the gate with Here Comes Sunshine and rolls through to the show's crux, a meaty Weather Report Suite> Eyes> China Doll. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-09-1973

With the boys lysergically beatific throughout, it is easy to see why the show was Dick Latvala's favorite. Pig bawls on Easy Wind and Good Lovin' and the Dead blissfully interweave Dark Star with Other One and Uncle John's before a heady Stephen>Eleven>Caution. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-08-1969

The Dead rip a stratospheric Dark Star out of a raging Sugar Mags and take a fast and hot Other One right through to a psychedelic Me And My Uncle before coming back to an even more otherworldly TOO and closing with a bone shaking, blistering NFA> GDTRFB> NFA. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-07-1971

Check out the tasty Jed, fresh Jack-A-Roe, and always hot Deal in the first half. But the second stanza - particularly that Playin' (can you say more cowbell!) out of the set-opening Terrapin - is really where it's at. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-06-1979

Preppy students outnumbered Heads 2 to 1, but everyone got down as the Dead blew the doors off the small gym. One of the best Eyes ever highlights it all, but the playing was immaculate from the lovely Cassidy to heady Let It Grow to the fireworks of the 2nd set. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-04-1977

At the Laughter, Love, and Music celebration in memory of Bill Graham, the festive atmosphere and spontaneous nature harkened back to the sixties. During the Dead's set, John Popper, John Fogerty, and Neil Young all joined the boys on stage for a fitting tribute. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-03-1991

Donna Jean Godchaux's powerful voice and joyful energy - and efforts to ensure Keith got in the band - helped shape the Dead's sound throughout the 70s. Another light from the Grateful Dead family has gone out, but her spirit and music live on. RIP. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/family/donna...

A taffy-rich Cold Rain and Snow opens before incredible, Pig-fueled versions of Good Lovin' and Dancin' lead to a monstrous Dark Star, replete with a Feelin' Groovy and Tighten Up jam, into Stephen> Eleven> Death Don't Have No Mercy. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/11-02-1969

A magnificent Help> Slip> Franklin's, ridiculous Rooster, somber Scarlet> Fire, and Dark Star with a spine-chilling Ken Kesey rap, are all tops, but the Standing on the Moon, so precious and meditatively powerful, might just be the highlight of the night. gratefuldeadoftheday.com/10-31-1991