headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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DonnieInMT

GDTRFB

+15113


Submissions

2
Deal
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Easily one of the best from 1972.
2
Sugaree
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Damn - this is one of those sweet under the radar versions.
2
El Paso
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Duh. It's 1972. Bob nails it.
3
Big River
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Overlooked show. This is still 1972 and the band still kicks butt. It's not just all about Europe.
2
Jack Straw
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Beautif vocals. Well played. If you're distracted, this will still make you bob your head.

Comments

Day Job
Sept. 2, 1985
Zoo Amphitheater

Jerry puts in a couple of exclamation points during the instrumental break that aren't there in most versions. Shows he's paying attention!!!
Childhood's End
Aug. 4, 1994
Giants Stadium

Weren't they supposed to do something with Mack The Knife?
Broken Arrow
May 26, 1993
Cal Expo

Weren't they supposed to do something with Mack The Knife?
Estimated Prophet
May 25, 1977
The Mosque

OVER - RATED !!!!! I know this is mostly pointless, because 1977 is a sacred cow on this site and too many people are blindly in awe of anything played that year. But - this was a young song in 1977. It hadn't grown vocally or instrumentally yet. In an attempt to make my point, I picked out a version from 1991 that wasn't even listed here until I just posted it - 10-30-91. Dare I say that the heretofore unrated version from 91 is better than the second ranked version? Yes - that's exactly what I'm saying. Estimated is a song about madness. That state of mind isn't conveyed in these early versions. In the 91 version, the insanity of it all comes through loud and clear, allowing the song to express its true vision. Go take a listen. Once in a while you get shown the light......
Sitting on Top of the World
Dec. 5, 1971
Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden

This one starts out slow. Jerry sounds tired and you get the idea that he thinks playing this was a mistake. Then about 3 minutes in, the band really goes at it, providing an unexpected peak. Jerry's vocals pick up and no longer sound fatigued.