headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+47930


Submissions

5
Ship of Fools
Oct. 1, 1976
Market Square Arena

Beautifully ensconced in a delicious 2nd set framed by a great Dancin'. On its own this one is pure and lovely. Great Fall '76 show.
3
Its All Over Now
Oct. 1, 1976
Market Square Arena

Bobby throws a little bit more chaw into this one. It's full of spit and loads of fun. Great first set all around.
5
Cassidy
Oct. 1, 1976
Market Square Arena

A blissful, soaring example of GD ensemble playing. Starts just a bit loose, but by the out chorus it's just amazing.
5
Mama Tried
Oct. 1, 1976
Market Square Arena

Sweet version here. Everyone is just exactly perfect.
1
Wharf Rat
Sept. 30, 1976
Mershon Auditorium, OSU

Remarkable part of one of the rare hour + extended jams, great transitions in and out of it and a heartfelt beauty on its own.
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Comments

Wharf Rat
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Gets my vote for best of the year, but I also think it hard to say just where comes back into the Playin' space during the deep jam... They're so far out of the WR structure and into the wild outer spheres before coming back into the recognisable reprise. Not too often that Wharf Rat dips into Dark Star territory, but this is something special.
Playin' In The Band
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Brings the expansive length and transitive madness of the most epic pre-hiatus versions if you take it as part of the whole suite. I don't say 'under-rated' often, but it fits here.
Deep Elem Blues
May 7, 1981
Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Synder

Here it is with great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chADQBmosEQ. It's quite cool to see this era with a decent/professional camerawork: Nice in-focus closeups of the band, Jerry singing beautifully and his fretwork. A beaut of a version any way you look at it.
Dire Wolf
May 7, 1981
Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Synder

What a rare treat. Sweet video of the performance on the "Tomorrow Show": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chADQBmosEQ.
Estimated Prophet
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Agree with Ernie5 - this is right in the sweet spot for the development of the song. Jerry's coda solo is a wild ride through the scrambled madness of the narrator. Bobby's voice in the C.Miller clean-up (I didn't get the box set!) is smoky and beautiful. For me this song has always been *the* emblem of '77 perfection and here it is on display.
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