headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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BearRat

on the bus

+1670


Submissions

11
Playin' In The Band
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Everything from 5/23-5/26 is heady to me...check the mellow vibe that settles in around the 8:00 mark. Followed by some nice Jerry messin' around.
6
Space
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Calm, clean, clear and expansive: this is what space sounds like to me.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
April 29, 1972
Musikhalle

Rider is draggy/borderline asleep, but China Cat deserves to be listed. Only song left out from this fine Europe '72 sleeper?

Comments

Ramble On Rose
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

'72 Rose in Europe, can't go wrong. Love the way Keith tickles the ivories, and with Pig's organ swirling. Yum.
Morning Dew
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

One of my new favorite Dews.
Dark Star
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

Man, this one goes to some dark, but beautiful, places. Jerry is going like a man possessed in that last ten minutes.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 24, 1987
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Comin' out of UJB, it sounds for a minute like they're going into Morning Dew, then they pull this one out and it's definitely the right call. Perfect energy for this show. Also kind of links thematically/lyrically; Uncle John's Band/Mr. Fantasy playing us a tune, taking us home with their song...I love when they do that stuff. I don't even know if it's a conscious choice (i.e. like when a Mississippi Half-Step, singing about across the Rio Grand-e-o then goes into a Big River, etc.)...these guys are magic. Beyond music. Beyond a band. Transcendent, like Mickey says. Just magic. (And all this from a heady but certainly not even best-of jam. And a Dear Mr. Fantasy no less!)...and I agree with above about Brent. Dripping with soul.
Playin' In The Band
July 24, 1987
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Pretty rockin' and trippier than you'd expect for this show/era. Starts out manic/sped-up, then slows down, speeds up, expands and contracts like that for a bit. Also has the typically late 80s high energy Jerry guitar work, then fades into drums. Nifty!