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!

Dead song debuts

Here is a listing of the first performances of some of the Dead's early songs. I skipped covers for the most part, but thought a simple list of first versions would show some interesting changes in how the songs developed, if anyone wants to go through and compare.
The initial idea was to see which tunes improved from their first performance to the album versions; but there's no general answer - each song has its own history.
Some were excellent the first time out; others took a long time to settle into place; some were played for months before being recorded; others popped onto the stage fresh from studio rehearsals. Since Dead songs often took years to reach their full potential, it's rare to find a studio version that's the "standard" for a song. Early versions are usually rather bare and rough-edged, which makes them interesting to hear since our ears tend to fill in what's missing.

I may have skipped some songs inadvertently, so add a comment if any are missing. This list goes up to '77, and is mostly limited to the Dead's original songs that appeared on albums (so a lot of their unreleased '66 songs are not included), and a few released covers.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-01-xx.sbd.hanno-uli.18846.sbeok.shnf - Viola Lee Blues studio rehearsal.
For most of the songs on the Dead's first two albums, we don't have "first" performances since so many shows are missing. 1967 was a year of nonstop rehearsals, so early versions of Anthem tunes like the Other One & New Potato are very similar to the album recordings. Viola Lee's unique in that we have the rehearsal BEFORE the first live version.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-02-25.sbd.unknown.1593.sbefail.shnf - Never released in a studio version, but this list wouldn't be complete without mentioning our earliest live I Know You Rider (which is similar to the Nov '65 studio demo).

As for some of the other songs on the first album, I'll just list a few -

Our first Morning Dew comes from the same month the album was recorded -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-01-14.sbd.vernon.9108.sbeok.shnf

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl was one of Pigpen's earliest numbers, and in fact our first Schoolgirl from early '66 is also the first Dead medley (sandwiched with You Don't Love Me) -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-XX-XX.sbd.GEMS.81254.flac16 (This set also has the earliest live Viola Lees.)

Cream Puff War was played throughout '66, and this one's the earliest (there's another early one on the Rare Cuts CD) -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd66-05-19.sbd.lestatkat.6516.sbeok.shnf

Golden Road, unfortunately, we only have a couple performances from after the album release -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-03-18.sbd.fink.10282.sbeok.shnf

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1966-01-08.sbd.bershaw.5410.shnf - our first live Caution (though there's a short studio cut from November '65). (This show also has our first Death Don't Have No Mercy, which never changed much.)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-06-18.sbd.mandrake.19586.sbeok.shnf - a primordial Alligator.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-08-04.sbd.hanno.16752.sbeok.shnf - I think this is the earliest New Potato we have (though some are misdated earlier).

http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-08-05.sbd.hanno.16753.sbeok.shnf - Lovelight. I know, this song was only done live, but these early ones are different.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd67-10-22.sbd.miller.18101.sbeok.shnf - first Other One, different lyrics.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1968-01-17.sbd.cotsman.11795.shnf - first live Dark Star, China Cat, Eleven, Born Cross-Eyed.
Dark Star had already been recorded for the single, so this is an example of a live debut that's close to the studio version but sounds very undeveloped since they kept expanding it for years.
China Cat, on the other hand, wouldn't be recorded for another year, and these early '68 versions are not only in a different key (so Garcia sings strangely) but are paired with the Eleven.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-xx-xx.sbd.vernon.9426.sbeok.shnf - early St Stephens.
We're fortunate to have a few Stephens from June '68, shortly after its debut. 6/14 is the best, but these are in sbd quality. Many differences from later Stephens!

Most of the other Aoxomoxoa debuts don't sound too different from the album versions, since they were played at the same time they were recorded.
But for the record:
Dupree's (with harmonica) & Doin' That Rag -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-01-24.sbd.kaplan.7922.sbeok.shnf
Rosemary -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1968-12-07.sbd.miller.88674.sbeok.flac16 (only one)
Mountains of the Moon -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1968-12-20.sbd.miller.89663.sbeok.flac16
Cosmic Charlie -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10-08.sbd.belaff.17691.sbeok.shnf (Hartbeats, great!) +
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-01-17.sbd.miller.89798.sbeok.flac16 (Dead).

(The 4/26/69 encore of What's Become of the Baby doesn't count since I believe Bear was playing back the studio version while the band played feedback.)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-01-01.studio.smith.91324.sbeok.flac16 - studio demo in June '69, Jerry solo Casey Jones, Dire Wolf, High Time.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-07.sbd.kaplan.9074.sbeok.shnf - first live Dire Wolf. But a more interesting alternate early version (Jerry on Pedal steel, Weir on vocals) is here - http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-27.sbd.samaritano.20547.sbeok.shnf

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-21.early-late.aud-sbd.cotsman.16334.sbeok.shnf - first live High Time. These early versions are quite wispy.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-22.sbd.kaplan.17892.sbeok.shnf - first live Casey Jones. The early versions have a neat jam into the song, and this one's the best.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-08-21.sbd.cotsman.13850.sbeok.shnf - first live Easy Wind. It would take them a while to work out the time changes!

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-11-01.sbd.cotsman.6298.sbeok.shnf - the first Uncle John's instrumental.

11/8/69 had the first Cumberland Blues, which needed a bit more practice....
The first one on the Archive is: http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-11-15.sbd.tiedrich.9535.sbeok.shnf

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-12-04.sbd.cotsman.9496.sbeok.shnf - first live Black Peter, and first Uncle John's with lyrics.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-12-19.sbd.hanno.9183.sbeok.shnf - first live Mason's Children - a song they decided not to release, though they recorded a studio demo.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-12-20.sbd.cotsman.6301.sbefail.shnf - first live New Speedway Boogie. The chorus singing is, um, quite different.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-03-20.sbd.smith.99182.sbeok.flac16 - first live Friend of the Devil (with some different lyrics).
We're lucky to have a tape of the original Dawson/Hunter recording of Friend of the Devil too! (from fall '69) -
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-06-xx.aud.tzuriel.10510.sbeok.shnf
(This tape also has the Dead working out the Uncle John's instrumental.)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-04-03.sbd.cotsman.4283.sbefail.shnf - first live Candyman (acoustic).

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-05-14.sbd.warner-evans.28716.sbeok.flac16 - first live Attics. Some of these early versions show the Dead struggling with it....

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-06-07.sbd.hollister.98.sbeok.shnf - first live Sugar Magnolia. Needed some more work!

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-07-30.sbd.cotsman.17077.sbeok.shnf - first live To Lay Me Down (acoustic). Also, a unique Dead studio version from this summer was released on the So Many Roads box set.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-08-18.aud.yerys.1346.sbeok.shnf - first live Truckin' - acoustic, with Pigpen on piano. (Also the first Ripple, Brokedown Palace & Operator; they were recording American Beauty this month.)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-09-17.aud.warner.16090.sbeok.shnf - our only Box of Rain from 1970. According to Deadlists, Pigpen's on piano, Jerry's on pedal steel, and someone's on fiddle, but frankly it's nearly inaudible.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd70-09-18.sbd-aud.cotsman.17893.sbeok.shnf - our first live Till the Morning Comes (AUD). This song never changed much. More well-known versions came on 10/4 and 10/31/70.

Bertha & Bird Song were played at the 12/15/70 show with David Crosby, and Loser was played (with fiddle!) at the PERRO sessions, but they're not on the Archive.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-02-18.sbd.orf.107.sbeok.shnf - Famous show of course; first Dead versions of Bertha, Loser, Greatest Story, Wharf Rat, and Playing in the Band.
This show marks a change in the Dead's pattern: instead of dropping songs into the sets one-by-one when composed, now they tended to write a whole bunch of songs in a touring break and introduce them all at once.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1971-02-19.aud.Vadnais.30230.flac16 - first Dead versions of Bird Song & Deal.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-07-31.winberg.weiner.5678.gdADT05.sbefail.shnf - first Sugaree and Mr. Charlie.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd71-10-19.orefm.clugston.3301.sbeok.shnf - A whole bunch of debuts. Clearly they had a busy month off!
Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Brown Eyed Women, Mexicali Blues, Comes A Time (with an extra verse), One More Saturday Night, Ramble On Rose

http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-03-05.sbd.miller.20739.sbeok.shnf - first Black Throated Wind.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-03-21.sbd.miller.92395.sbeok.flac16 - first Looks Like Rain (w/ Pedal steel).

http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-04-17.sbd.vernon.9390.sbeok.shnf - the first He's Gone. Quick & snappy.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-06-17.aud.hanno.16470.sbeok.shnf - first Stella Blue (with Pigpen on organ) - poor AUD.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd72-07-16.sbd-aud.cotsman.11258.sbeok.shnf - first MS Half-Step (poor AUD).
(The next performance is more listenable - http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-07-18.sbd.miller.32878.flac16 )

http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-02-09.sbd.allred.9888.sbeok.shnf - Another one of the famed "let's debut a whole new album" shows - the first performances of Row Jimmy, Loose Lucy, Here Comes Sunshine, They Love Each Other, Eyes of the World, China Doll and Wave That Flag. (Only three of these would make it onto Wake of the Flood, though, which was recorded in August '73.)

The Weather Report Suite is tricky - the Prelude had been floating around for years, Let It Grow debuted on 9/7/73, and the whole Suite was first performed on 9/8. Another of the few Dead songs that debuted only after being recorded for an album.
http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-09-07.sbd.cotsman.19893.sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-09-08.sbd.wulf.183.sbefail.shnf (9/8/73 also sees the debut of the short-lived Let Me Sing Your Blues Away.)

http://www.archive.org/iathreads/post-view.php?id=263203 - list of early Preludes in '72/'73.
http://www.archive.org/details/gd69-04-05.sbd.miller.18701.sbesok.shnf - the earliest Prelude tease I've found. (There's also a tease in the 8/6/71 Other One reprise.)

First performances of the remaining Mars Hotel songs (recorded in April '74) aren't too distinctive, but for the sake of completeness:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1974-02-22.sbd.gans-latvala.samaritano.26763.shnf - first Ship of Fools & Must Have Been the Roses.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1974-03-23.aud.connors.hughey.gems.78599.flac16 - first Scarlet Begonias & Cassidy.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1974-05-17.sbd.miller.89972.sbeok.flac16 - first Money Money (out of three).

http://www.archive.org/details/gd74-06-23.sbd.cribbs.16780.sbeok.shnf - OK, it's a cover and not a Dead song, but worth mentioning as the only Dead performance of a song off Garcia's Compliments album - Let It Rock. This show also has the debut of Seastones!

From early '75, of course, we have innumerable rehearsals of the new songs in the studio, but to focus on the live debuts:
3/23/75 has the first of the three Blues for Allah>Stronger than Dirt performances.
8/13/75 has a rare Sage & Spirit (the only other one, I think, was on 10/31/80).

http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-06-17.bertrando.unknown.233.sbeok.shnf - first Help On The Way (no vocals)>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower, and first Crazy Fingers.
(An early Slipknot riff had also been played a few times in '74, for instance 6/20 and 7/25/74.)

The first live Music Never Stopped was on 8/13/75, but the first live one on the Archive is - http://www.archive.org/details/gd75-09-28.sbd.fink.9392.sbeok.shnf

http://www.archive.org/details/gd76-06-03.sbd.bertha-ashley.20004.sbeok.shnf - first live Wheel (five years after being recorded!), Might As Well, Lazy Lightning>Supplication

http://www.archive.org/details/gd76-06-04.sbd.cotsman.9797.sbeok.shnf - not a Dead song really, but the first of five Dead performances of Mission in the Rain.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd77-02-26.sbd.alphadog.9752.sbeok.shnf - first Terrapin Station & Estimated Prophet.
Although I should note, an early Estimated Prophet riff was being practiced as early as '74!
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1974-02-22.sbd-snchk.sirmick.21128.sbeok.shnf

http://www.archive.org/details/gd77-03-18.sbd.unknown.254.sbeok.shnf - first Fire on the Mountain. (However, Mickey Hart did a studio version of this way back in '71, I believe.)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1977-05-15.28916.sbeok.flac16 - first Passenger.

Well, that's as far as I'll go with this....

It's worth mentioning that after the hiatus they introduced slower, rearranged versions of some older songs (like They Love Each Other, Friend of the Devil, Dancin', etc), but that's a different discussion.

Another interesting list could be made of the first performances of the Dead's covers - for instance, to take a random few from Skull & Roses, the first versions of Not Fade Away, Goin' Down the Road, Me & My Uncle, and Mama Tried are rather different than what they became. I'm putting together that list as well....