Grateful Dead - listening suggestions

Ask any two fans, and get 72 answers (both of which are legally required to contain 5-8-77, already linked twice in this post). While it is the most common response — consensus is: it was one of the first excellent shows to be widely distributed in high quality in the era when people were literally mailing each other tapes — it is by no means comprehensive!

The Dead were a shapeshifting hydra that re-invented their sound every few years. So the first question you must answer is: what appeals to you? There’s no wrong answer, just something to keep track of for further exploration once you scratch the surface.

The list below is not definitive, more “what springs to mind on a Thursday morning in bed”:

• Early dead (65-67): jug bands, bluegrass, acid rock, blues and weird ass shit. 9/3/67 is a decent choice.
• Acid washed Dead (68-69): some choice cuts, 68-10-12 02-14-68, Fillmore West 69, 11/8/68. I also have a set of compilations on YT for 69: 1 (I swear YT has deleted so much of my shit over the years -.-)
• Peak Country Dead (1970): 02/13/70 aka DP4 or "Bear's Choice", 05/02/70 @ Harpur College, killer acoustic set, check Mr. C's compilation "The Rising Tide" on YT.
• Transition year, super-tight playing not quite jazz yet, Pig is still around (71): The entire Felt Forum run in Dec is gold, check my compatilation on YT (he says, not realizing YT copy-righted that shit into oblivion :() -- Start with 12/5/71. The most ripping hard to handle of all time happened, and was captured on an all-time Aud on 71-08-06
• Pure gold, Jerry (72): Literally too many to name, 08/24/72 @ Berkley, the less popular cousin of Sunshine Daydream 08/27/72, 10/18/72 at the Fox, 11/18/72 @ the Hoffheinz, but really all of Nov. is worth a listen.
• Stratospheric jazz (73): Again, an embarrassment of riches. DP28 in the spring (02/24-26), Boston Gardens in April (DaP21), PNE in June (part of the PNW boxset, the 74 show is required listening as well), Soundcheck at Watkins, Pauley Pavilion (DaP 5), Duke in Dec, the list goes on and on.
• Wall of Sound (74): Throw away your soundboards, you don't need them where we're going. 08/06/74, my personal pick for "best of all time" today, at this exact moment, ask me again later. The PNE shows from the PNW boxset in 73. Providence for an all time China-Rider, Freedom Hall, Winterland 74 (check the Grateful Dead Movie) or 10/20/74.
• Hiatus (75): Listen to every show, there's only 4 and they're all all-timers. 08/13/75 is the most famous (source for One From the Vault).
• Road to glory (76): after the hiatus, new style, new songs, direct path to 77. Beacon run is a good choice early in the year, but most of the Orpheum, Capitol, etc. in June and July are very solid. Shout out to introduction of Crazy Fingers. Later in the fall, look for Cobo and Oakland.
• There's nothing like (77): May 77 is perhaps the peak of the band, check the box-set, but you should honestly try it all. Don't skip the Dick's Picks 29 at the Fox or DP3 in FL either. Also Winterland 77 from June. Later in the year, is the Noble Center (DP29), and Raceway Park (DP15). OP: important note go listen to the goddamn He's Gone > NFA > Truckin from DP15. It'll change your life. I could drop another dozen shows on this list, but... you should probably check out 02/06/77 @ the Swing.
• 78 slowed down into a groove. Long intense versions of Peggy-O, Cassidy from this era cannot be touched. I particularly love the spring. 04/16/78 is a classic. The Red Rocks shows from the July 78 boxset a few years back are legendary mid-year.
• I am going to skip the rest of it, because... well yeah. Could spend all day here. @Schnupfenheld, when you start feeling like exploring in 79 and beyond, feel free to bug me. I will drop a very, very solid req for the Spring 90 boxset as an intro to the later years.

I would also be remiss not to drop a link to: http://gdluckynumbers.org/downloadables.htm

Edit: you have no idea how happy I am to see some deadheads pop up here. I've been missing my friends on the underscore sub for a long time, @MrCompletely and @wilbard wherever you are :)