While Ryan Adams puts the finishing touches on what is turning out to be a gorgeous interpretation of Taylor Swift’s 1989, it’s a good time to look back on some of his other covers including those of the Grateful Dead. Already this year, he’s taken on Bryan Adams in a redemption moment and Foo Fighters following Dave Grohl’s broken leg, but Adams has always had a certain knack for the Dead’s catalog. 

In 2006, “Stella Blue”, along with several others in the Dead catalog, were in fairly heavy rotation during Adams’ tour with The Cardinals. In particular, the Wake of the Flood cut seems tailor-made for Adams’ style, as he takes the song emotional crescendo and makes it his own. 

Replay Adams’ take on “Stella Blue” cover below and listen to the full show here.