headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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DonnieInMT

GDTRFB

+15113


Submissions

2
Not Fade Away
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

Man, that sure is a lot of screaming!
1
One More Saturday Night
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

Blistering encore. One of the fastest and hottest I've ever heard. I think I just wet my pants!!!
5
Tennessee Jed
Dec. 10, 1971
Fox Theatre

These early versions, Jerry has some problems remembering when to sing the right lyrics.
5
Next Time You See Me
Dec. 10, 1971
Fox Theatre

A good example of how the shorter Pigpen tunes can still be really good.
8
Jack Straw
Dec. 10, 1971
Fox Theatre

This one will grab your attention and get your head bobbing.

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.