Finnguitar has just got the book "Grateful Dead Gear" by Blair Jackson released 2006. See also Finnguitar Blog for short review.  THis book will be basis for a serie of reviews and analysis. Some Dead Heads will love to find out how the songs, sessions was set-up. Others will find the book of no interesse.

Finnguitar would like to start with Sugar Magnolia:

Sugar Magnolia
A starting place is Grateful Dead song Sugar Magnolia.
On the original recording on American Beuty this rock
song is balanced with a country feel to it. Bob Weir
basically described the feel of the song as cajun
music interpreted by a young rock band. But I also 
recommend to listen CD Europe 72' where this piece
of music evolves from the described feels to a floating
stream of Jerry Garcias guitar on top of Bob Weir rythm
guitar along with the band in a surprising musical climax.