headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


Submissions

8
Mexicali Blues
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

'73 Mexicali? Smokesville, USA.
11
Loser
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Heavens! It took a Dave's Picks to get this on the board! Soft, seductive, dark, and pretty much perfectly realized. Guitar break: shit yeah.
3
Estimated Prophet
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

Bold, sharp, confident version with plenty of 1977 squoosh. This version has that great '77 restraint with Garcia speaking in MuTron tongues.
6
Brown Eyed Women
Oct. 29, 1973
Kiel Auditorium

Attention. To. Detail. - ESP Weir. Not the world's greatest recording, but the band is bubbly & effortless.
3
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
July 31, 1971
Yale Bowl, Yale University

Listened to this on a big PA outside over the summer and it's so alive, athletic, and filled with beautiful instrumental cross-talk. Improv!
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Comments

Tennessee Jed
Oct. 9, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

'76 Tennessee Jed. Elite shit.
Jack Straw
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

This version has its positives, but the drums are sloppy and that ruins any momentum (important in this song). Yep - D & Co. have plenty of other issues. I saw them once and hated it. Boring and I loathe John Mayer's putrid voice. Good guitar player, but not all THAT good. I don't begrudge them for doing it, but I find D & Co. annoying and vapid. Also, SLOOOOWWWWW. Yuck. + And credit to the New Yorker for the description "two old sneakers in a dryer" - although that characterization probably precedes the NYer article.
Playin' In The Band
March 28, 1972
Academy of Music

How did this one wind up the forgotten sister from these shows? This a flying beast! Garcia loses his mind at least three times.
Not Fade Away
Nov. 8, 1970
Capitol Theater

And toward the end of this furious NFA, a guitar orchestra ship descends softly and leads to some truly beautiful and unique way-outs. The toppest of drawers.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
Nov. 8, 1970
Capitol Theater

Emerges from a devastating NFA, and soothes anyone concerned that we were always going to be in Abstractland. Tribal drum holdover from NFA adds a girthy edge. Then the group just settles in.
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