headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Estimated

jaded vet

+2833


Submissions

52
To Lay Me Down
Sept. 26, 1980
Warfield Theater

dead reckoning. am i the only one that believes this is the definitive version??? so beautiful.
7
King Bee
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

2/11/69 album. not very long, but the best pig vocals i've ever heard on this tune. very satisfying.
16
Spanish Jam
Feb. 23, 1968
Kings Beach Bowl

DP22 version. very creative, gets out there.
10
Cream Puff War
July 16, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

so many roads box set version. definitive. tight, smokin' solo to boot.
1
Sitting on Top of the World
July 1, 1966
Unknown (perhaps Fillmore Auditorium)

birth of the dead version - tight! vocals are decent, too.

Comments

Bertha
July 4, 1989
Rich Stadium

Very solid, fun, and well-played Bertha. And YES, I know the note!
Desolation Row
Feb. 17, 1988
Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium

I always felt this was the sister version to the Stuck Inside Of Mobile from 10/9/89. For some reason, whenever I hear one, I think of the other. Love both!
Jack Straw
Sept. 20, 1987
Madison Square Garden

I came in here to post this if it wasn't already. Good call! I was inspired by the 1/11/79 version that is currently ranked at the top. I chalk that one up as a crappy version with a raging guitar solo. Are we succumbing to the "the gesture is enough" syndrome here? It made me go out and find a good one and put my money where my mouth is. (haha) We all have out opinions, but what I look for in a great version of a song is most importantly, high energy... then good vocals, creative playing/jamming, tightness/execution, and an in-the-pocket groove. I feel none of that was present in the 1/11/79 Jack Straw except maybe some energy and a good guitar solo. I almost feel Jerry raged those solos out of spite because he felt the rest of the band wasn't pulling it together. No offense to anyone here of course... We're all here for the same reason, right? I just think there are performances out there that have great energy ~AND~ all of the other elements listed above. If someone new came in here for ideas and heard THAT Jack Straw first...? Don't think it would help turn him on. Anyway, my two cents. (or more) I'll get off my soapbox now.
She Belongs To Me
Sept. 15, 1985
Devore Field

This should be at the top. Chills every time.
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

It's hard to argue against this one...