headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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DonnieInMT

GDTRFB

+15113


Submissions

1
Casey Jones
April 30, 1981
Greensboro Coliseum

Before they start playing, Bob tells the crowd about how there was a train wreck near here and the engineer died, but his memory lives.
1
Johnny B. Goode
April 30, 1981
Greensboro Coliseum

Solid, high octane ender for the second set..
2
Mexicali Blues
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

Lively, with solid lead vocals and harmonies.
1
El Paso
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

I love these early 70's El Paso ditties.
2
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

Another great 1972 version of this rockin' tune.

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.