3 Times the Grateful Dead Performed Cover Songs That Were Better Than the Originals

The Grateful Dead produced a ton of amazing original music in their heyday. They also took on quite a few covers through the years, and rarely were those covers ever not up to par. Rather, The Grateful Dead knew how to dish out cover songs that rivalled the source material. These three tracks are just a few of the very best.

1. “Revolution” by The Beatles

The Grateful Dead covered The Beatles often throughout their career, and rarely did they ever fail to do the Fab Four justice. One standout cover of The Beatles that The Grateful Dead took on is “Revolution”. We’d be bold enough to say that this has to be their finest Beatles cover by far, and it’s a stunning crossover for two of the best bands of the 20th century.

2. “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan

Grateful Dead’s cover songs were often rock-focused, but they also knew how to incorporate the folky side of rock music into their live performances. This stunning cover of “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan took place in the early 1990s following the death of concert promoter Bill Graham. Tons of acts gathered at Golden State Park to pay tribute to Graham, and Neil Young decided to join The Grateful Dead onstage for this touching and stellar performance. 

Neil Young and The Grateful Dead go together like two peas in a pod. It’s sad that the circumstances that brought them together for this cover are tragic, but man does this rendition hit.

3. “Around And Around” by Chuck Berry

It’s not exactly shocking that a jam band would cover a Chuck Berry classic or two. That being said, The Grateful Dead took Chuck Berry cover songs to a whole new level with their rendition of “Around And Around”. 

The band performed their cover of the song live for more than three decades, and it’s a fan favorite for a reason. This B-side to “Johnny B. Goode” was originally a stellar song, but Grateful Dead’s searing, explosive version manages to be both faithful to the original while still being a uniquely Grateful Dead experience. This one would’ve been amazing to see live.

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