Early Dead Covers

I've put together a list of the first known performances of the Dead's cover songs in the '60s and '70s.

These are listed by the order first performed; but in many cases the Dead played a song in rehearsals, sometimes for years, long before playing it live. Often they'd drop a song and then bring it back years later - in those cases I provided both dates.

This is as complete as I could make it. There are, though, a lot of things I did NOT include:
- songs only performed in 1966. That year has a unique repertoire that deserves an article of its own someday - if a song didn't make it past 1967, I didn't list it.
- covers done after 1979. There are lots of these, of course, but someone else can handle them better than I could.
- instrumentals. (These might include the Foxy Lady jam on 4-21-69, the Close Encounters jam on 1-22-78; the various jams on Darkness Darkness or Tighten Up or Feelin' Groovy in 1970; teases like the 3-28-72 Sidewalks of New York; or tuning ditties like Funiculi Funicula, etc.) I did make a couple exceptions to this.
- songs only performed in the acoustic sets of '69/70; I've already listed those in a previous post. But I did note a couple that 'broke out' into electric sets as well.
http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2009/08/deads-acoustic-sets-1969-1970.html
- songs only performed with guests (such as the 12-10-69 Black Queen, and other songs only done with Elvin Bishop, Jorma Kaukonen, or Bo Diddley) - since these are already linked in my guest-appearance listing.
http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2009/08/crowded-dead-stage-1967-1975.html

I've probably missed a few songs, so corrections are welcome.....

(Note that in early '66, dates are tentative and frequently wrong. For instance, the old "3/12/66" show is now thought to be 3/19/66; Lemieux provided a setlist for the actual 3/12/66 - the first half of it is what's circulating as the second set of 5/19/66, and the second half is what's known as 2/25/66. And much of what's been released from early '66 has no date at all. In short, though I'll order the songs by the 'standard' dates for convenience, everything I list from early '66 should be thought of as just "early '66 sometime" with no chronology implied.)

I Know You Rider - studio recording November '65 (on Birth of the Dead CD); first live recording 2/25/66 or ??/66 (after '66, was dropped until 9/30/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-XX-XX.sbd.GEMS.81254.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-02-25.sbd.unknown.1593.sbefail.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-09-30.aud.early.hollister.80.sbeok.shnf

La Bamba - studio 2/23/66 (labeled as Good Lovin'); live 11/11/70; then not heard til '87
http://www.dead.net/features/february-23-march-1-2009
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-11.aud.cotsman.17081.sbeok.shnf

Who Do You Love - Deadlists claims this is played in a '66 studio rehearsal (not on the Archive); a snatch of it is played in the 11/11/70 jams; Pigpen then sings a bit of it in the Caution jams on 4/14 and 5/11/72.
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-04-14.sbd.hurwitt.8828.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-05-11.sbd.samaritano.9357.sbeok.shnf

We have several covers played at our earliest taped Dead show:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-01-08.sbd.bershaw.5410.shnf

Death Don't Have No Mercy - 1/8/66

King Bee - 1/8/66 (after '66, was dropped until 2/11/69)

I'm a Hog For You Baby - 1/8/66 (also 3/25/66; after '66, was only played on 4/6/71)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-03-25.sbd.unknown.38.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-04-06.sbd.stephens.18735.sbeok.shnf

We then have a set of undated recordings, from sometime in January-April:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-XX-XX.sbd.GEMS.81254.flac16

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - ??/66 (with You Don't Love Me, which was also played 12/1/66)

Don't Ease Me In - ??/66; studio recording June '66 (on Birth of the Dead CD); also live 7/16/66 (after '66, was dropped until 3/20/70; after '70 acoustic sets, dropped until 9/16/72; after '75 hiatus, dropped until 2/7/79).
I will spare you all the links for this one.

New Orleans - ??/66; revived 8/29/69 (also played 6/6/70, 11/8/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-29.sbd.cotsman.8996.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-06-06.sbd.miller.86951.sbeok.flac16

Viola Lee Blues - ??/66 (also 3/19/66) also the first rehearsal from January:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-01-xx.sbd.hanno-uli.18846.sbeok.shnf

Midnight Hour - ??/66 (also 3/19/66)

Beat It On Down the Line - ??/66 (also 3/19/66)

It's A Sin - ??/66 (also 3/19/66; after '66, was played on 10/10/68, otherwise dropped until 4/5/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-03-19.sbd.scotton.81951.sbeok.flac
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10-10.sbd.miller-ladner.4513.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-04-05.sbd.miller.18701.sbesok.shnf

The release of the Rare Cuts & Oddities CD proved quite a surprise, unearthing songs that no one knew had been covered so early:

Not Fade Away - early '66 (on Rare Cuts); 6/19/68; next heard as a false start on 4/23/69; finally introduced into Dead's sets on 12/21/69
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-06-19.sbd.cotsman.4511.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-04-23.sbd.wise.70.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-12-21.sbd.vernon.12927.sbeok.shnf

Walking the Dog - early '66 (on Rare Cuts); revived 3/21/70 early show (also played 11/9/70; then disappears until '84)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-03-21.early.lee.pcrp.20184.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-09.aud.hanno.7591.sbeok.shnf

Big Railroad Blues - early '66 (on Rare Cuts); revived 6/24/70 (also done 9/7/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-06-24.aud.unknown.gadsden-reynolds.100223.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-09-07.sbd.dfinney.5808.sbeok.shnf(This was a drunken 'oldies' show with Garcia & Jefferson Airplane - it also has Twist and Shout, which was murdered by the Dead on one of the ??/66 reels.)

Promised Land - early '66 (on Rare Cuts); revived 5/29/71 http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-05-29.aud.cotsman.19153.sbeok.shnf(poor AUD)

Our next dated show gives us several more covers:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-02-25.sbd.unknown.1593.sbefail.shnf

Cold Rain & Snow - 2/25/66 (played through '67, then dropped until 5/31/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-05-31.sbd.oleynick.76.sbeok.shnf

Next Time You See Me - 2/25/66 (after '67, was dropped until 9/27/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-09-27.aud.hanno.14857.sbeok.shnf

On the Road Again - 2/25/66 (played again 12/1/66; after '66, was dropped until 1980)

We have quite a few new songs & covers at our next show, 5/19/66 - several of them wouldn't become Dead standards until 1969:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-05-19.sbd.lestatkat.6516.sbeok.shnf

It Hurts Me Too - 5/19/66

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - 5/19/66 (after '66, was dropped until 4/6/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-04-06.sbd.fm.cotsman.9492.sbeok.shnf

Sittin' On Top Of The World - 5/19/66 (after '66, next heard on 3/26/68, then resurfaces 4/15/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-03-26.aud.cotsman.6029.sbeok.shnf(Check out the comment: "We never did that one very good even when we were doing it.")
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-04-15.aud.miller.31435.sbeok.flacf

New Minglewood Blues - 5/19/66 (after '66, was dropped until 4/26/69, was then rarely performed until '76 - six times in '70 and two in '71)
4/26/69 is N/A on the Archive, but the other '69 performance is here:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-21.sbd.cotsman.13850.sbeok.shnf

Silver Threads & Golden Needles - 5/19/66 (also on Rare Cuts; after '66, was dropped until 4/26/69)
Next available performance:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-22.aud.hanno.8836.sbefail.shnf

Good Lovin' - 5/19/66 (also on Rare Cuts; after '66 was dropped until 5/7/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-05-07.sbd.cotsman.6028.sbeok.shnf(Jerry sings)

7/3/66 is our next show with a bunch of new covers - note that the Archive link is screwed up since the songfiles list the 3/25/66 setlist! It plays the right show, though.
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-07-03.sbd.unknown.40.sbeok.shnf

Dancing in the Street - 7/3/66

He Was a Friend of Mine - 7/3/66

Big Boss Man - 7/3/66 (after '66, was dropped until 6/27/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-27.sbd.samaritano.20547.sbeok.shnf

These three songs can also be heard at our next show:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-07-16.sbd.miller.89555.sbeok.flac16

Nobody's Fault But Mine - 7/16/66 (also played 12/1/66; after '66 was dropped until 5/14/70 & 6/13/70 as a jam within New Speedway; then was dropped again until 10/2/72 when it became part of the post-Truckin' jam)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-05-14.sbd.warner-evans.28716.sbeok.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-06-13.sbd.hanno.9079.sbefail.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-10-02.sbd.lai.158.sbefail.shnf

Our next few shows don't offer anything new setlist-wise, but towards the end of the year we find some new songs.

Same Thing - 9/16/66 (date uncertain; also played 11/19 and 11/29/66, and 3/18/67; then not heard again until 12/31/71; reintroduced in '90s)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-09-16.sbd.vernon.9127.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-12-31.fm.lanum.135.sbeok.shnf

Hi-Heel Sneakers - 11/19/66 (not heard again until 8/3/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-11-19.fm.9730.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1969-08-03.sbd.miller.30652.sbeok.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-28.sbd.lepley.4234.sbeok.shnf(a Hartbeats show, which also has the last It's A Sin until the 6/18/74 jam)

Smokestack Lightning - 11/19/66 (after 3/18/67, next heard on 3/3/68, then 5/7/69, and only ten Pigpen performances thereafter)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-03-18.sbd.fink.10282.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-03-03.aud.vernon.9374.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-05-07.sbd.cotsman.6028.sbeok.shnf(partial)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-06.sbd.jupile.9494.sbeok.shnf(with Elvin Bishop)

Me and My Uncle - 11/29/66 (after '67, was dropped until 4/27/69)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-11-29.sbd.ret.20448.sbeok.shnf
(This show also has I Just Want To Make Love To You, the only performance until 1984.)
4/27/69 is a Dick's Pick, but the next performance is here:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-05-03.aud.phunk1.73.sbeok.shnf

Deep Elem Blues - 12/1/66 (then dropped until 3/20/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-12-01.sbd.sirmick.26968.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-03-20.sbd.smith.99182.sbeok.flac16

Morning Dew - 1/14/67
http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-01-14.sbd.vernon.9108.sbeok.shnf

Lovelight - 8/5/67
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1967-08-05.sbd.10356.shnf

We Bid You Goodnight - 1/22/68
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1968-01-22.sbd.miller.97342.sbeok.flac16

Death Letter Blues - 10/30/68 Hartbeats (only performance)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10-30.sbd.sacks.1205.sbeok.shnf

Hey Jude - 2/11/69 (also done 3/1/69)
Hard to believe, but both versions have been officially released.

Hard to Handle - 3/15/69
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-03-15.sbd.cotsman.4280.sbeok.shnf

Green Grass of Home - 5/31/69
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-05-31.sbd.oleynick.76.sbeok.shnf
(Significant as the first of the pedal-steel songs; for details on other country covers the Dead introduced in 1969, check my acoustic-sets post.)

Mama Tried - 6/21/69 (This show also has the debut of Slewfoot.)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-21.early-late.aud-sbd.cotsman.16334.sbeok.shnf

Seasons of My Heart - 8/2/69 (also done 11/2, 12/31/69, and a few times in 1970)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-02.sbd.miller.30651.sbeok.flacf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1969-11-02.sbd.miller.32350.sbeok.flac16

Searchin' - 8/29/69 (also done 11/8/70, and with the Beach Boys 4/27/71)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-29.sbd.cotsman.8996.sbeok.shnf

9/6/69 catches the Dead in an oldies mood, as they bring out a couple rare covers.
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-09-06.sbd.samaritano.16608.sbeok.shnf
(Note: 8/29 and 9/6/69 are the last Good Lovin's that Jerry sings, before Pigpen takes over.)

Big Boy Pete - 9/6/69 (also done 12/31/69, 3/1/70, 9/20/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-03-01.sbd.hanno.4641.sbefail.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-09-20.aud.remaster.sirmick.27583.sbeok.shnf

It's All Over Now - 9/6/69 (also done 11/20/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-20.aud.cotsman.9001.sbeok.shnf

Monkey & the Engineer - 12/19/69 (usually an acoustic song, it was done electric a few times)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-12-19.sbd.hanno.9183.sbeok.shnf

The Race Is On - 12/31/69 (done acoustic & with NRPS in 1970; then dropped until 3/19/73)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1969-12-31.sbd.miller.95420.sbeok.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-03-19.sonyecm.moskal.97417.flac16(AUD)

Dark Hollow - 2/14/70 (usually an acoustic song, but it was done electric a couple times in 1971)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-10-31.early.sbd.fischer.6517.sbeok.shnf(the first electric Dark Hollow - and the last Viola Lee)

Two Trains Running - this is just a verse or two sung by Pigpen in the Lovelights on 2/27/70 and 12/15/71
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-02-27.sbd.clugston.2191.sbeok.shnf(19 minutes into Lovelight)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-12-15.sbd.cotsman.12615.sbeok.shnf(in the Lovelight reprise, after I'm A Man - the only performance of that one other than 3/25/72 with Bo Diddley)

It's a Man's World - 4/9/70
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-04-09.sbd.hanno.6157.sbeok.shnf
(This show also has the mysterious "Cowboy Song".)

Frozen Logger - 5/7/70 (also done 6/21/70, 12/26/70, and 8/25/72)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-05-07.aud.weiner-gdADT04.5439.sbefail.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-06-21.aud.hanno.6160.sbeok.shnf(in the Intro)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-12-26.sbd.miller.22369.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-08-25.sbd.miller.92840.sbeok.flac16

El Paso - 7/11/70
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-07-11.aud.cotsman.9379.sbefail.shnf(Poor AUD. This show also has the only So Sad, an Everly Brothers cover.)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-07-14.sbd.cotsman.17815.sbeok.shnf(First electric version. Jerry says, "Here's where Weir gets his wish, at the expense of everybody.")

Goin' Down the Road - instrumental 10/10/70, song 10/11/70
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-10-10.aud.hanno.7590.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-10-11.aud.cotsman.9500.sbeok.shnf

11/8/70 is famed for its rare covers:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-11-08.aud.weiner.28609.sbeok.shnf

Around & Around - 11/8/70

Mystery Train - 11/8/70 (only time played)
My Babe - 11/8/70 (only time played)
(Also the rare New Orleans>Searchin'.)

Me & Bobby McGee - 11/29/70 (first played in NRPS set 11/6/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-06.aud.warner.17183.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-29.aud.hanno.7592.sbeok.shnf

Johnny B Goode - 1/22/71 (previously done by Garcia & Jefferson Airplane 9/7/69, and by Weir & Hot Tuna 12/31/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-12-31.aftershow.sbd.cole.6171.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-01-22.sbd.cotsman.12592.sbeok.shnf

Sing Me Back Home - 4/5/71
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-04-05.sbd.stephens.16606.sbeok.shnf(starts out as onstage practice)

Oh Boy - 4/6/71 (only electric performance; some later acoustic versions)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-04-06.sbd.stephens.18735.sbeok.shnf (along with I'm a Hog For You Baby)

Second That Emotion - 4/8/71 (only played seven times that month)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-04-08.sbd.lai.120.sbefail.shnf

Get Back - 10/21/71 soundcheck (Jerry sings; only time performed until '87)
http://www.dead.net/features/tapers-section/may-28-june-3-2007-0

Hideaway - 11/7/71 (also done in the studio 4/2/75)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-11-07.prefm.kaplan.9570.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-04-02.sbd.backus.14290.sbeok.shnf

You Win Again - 11/14/71
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-11-14.sbd.miller.23568.sbeok.shnf

Run Rudolph Run - 12/4/71 (only played seven times that month)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-12-04.sbd.lai.6256.sbefail.shnf

I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water - 12/5/71 (only Dead performance)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-12-05.prefm.miller.3391.sbeok.shnf

Big River - 12/31/71
http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-12-31.fm.lanum.135.sbeok.shnf (along with Pigpen's last Same Thing, and the last Dancin' in the Street until 1976)

3/25/72 was notable not only for the Bo Diddley set but for several unique covers. Highlights were released on a Dick's Pick, but a terrible AUD is on the Archive:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-03-25.aud.hanno.horner.22094.sbeok.shnf

Are You Lonely For Me Baby - 3/25/72 (only Dead performance)
How Sweet It Is - 3/25/72 (only Dead performance)
(This show also features Pigpen's last Smokestack Lightning; it was later revived in 1984.)

Bo Diddley - 3/25/72 (also done 5/23, 7/16, and 8/22/72; and a short bit on 11/11/70)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-11-11.aud.cotsman.17081.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-07-16.sbd-aud.cotsman.11258.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-08-22.sbd.cotsman.11472.sbeok.shnf

Rockin' Pneumonia - 5/23/72 (also done 5/24, 6/17, 9/3, and 10/23/72)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-05-23.sbd.unknown.16089.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-05-24.sbd-pset2.unknown.91509.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-09-03.sbd.gems.101143.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-10-23.sonyecm250.unknown.miller.98958.sbeok.flac16

Tomorrow Is Forever - 9/24/72 (Donna covers Dolly Parton; played ten times)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-09-24.sbd.cribbs.25282.sbeok.shnf

It Takes a Lot to Laugh - 6/10/73
That's Alright Mama - 6/10/73 (unique Dead performances; Garcia did these in his sets with Saunders, but decided to bring them out for the Allmans)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-06-10.sbd.miller.89640.sbeok.flac16

Wang Dang Doodle - 10/23/73 soundcheck (Jerry sings; only time performed until '83)
http://www.dead.net/features/tapers-section/may-21-may-28-2007

Blue Suede Shoes (and unknown r&b tune) - 12/1/73 soundcheck (also done 12/12/73)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-12-01.sbd.clugston.6648.sbefail.shnf

Peggy-O - 12/10/73 (Download Series; also played 12/12/73)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-12-12.sbd.hobbs.6023.sbeok.shnf

Rip It Up, Thirty Days - 12/12/73 soundcheck
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-12-12.sbd.soundcheck-from-2595.3401.shnf

Let It Rock - 6/23/74 (only Dead performance)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd74-06-23.sbd.cribbs.16780.sbeok.shnf

Samson & Delilah - 6/3/76
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1976-06-03.sbd.seamons.fix-20004.86745.sbeok.shnf(this copy runs at the right speed)

Got My Mojo Workin' - 4/22/77 (also done 10/21/78)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd77-04-22.sbd.miller.27747.sbeok.flacf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1978-10-21.aud.rhinotrocity5.motb-0015.94599.flac16

Jack-a-Roe - 5/13/77
http://www.archive.org/details/gd77-05-13.sbd.miller.9393.sbeok.shnf

Werewolves of London - 4/19/78
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1978-04-19.sbd.gans.miller.9121.shnf

Ollin Arrageed - 9/14/78 (usually only played with Hamza el-Din, but a couple notable exceptions are the 11/18 and 11/23/78 spaces)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1978-09-13.aud-schk.unknown.miller.87779.sbeok.flac16(soundcheck)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd78-09-14.sbd.miller.22169.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1978-11-18.sbd.miller.81131.sbeok.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1978-11-23.fob.sonyECM250.walker.scotton.miller.96031.sbeok.flac16

C.C. Rider - 12/1/79 (comes out of a Gloria jam, which was also played in the He's Gone outro on 11/9/79)
http://www.archive.org/details/gd79-12-01.sbd.miller.29429.sbeok.flacf
more Gloria - http://www.archive.org/details/gd1979-11-09.sbd.stern.tetzeli.fix-318.34936.reflac.flac16

That's as far as I'll go.... I hope this was useful!