headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Submissions

1
Drums
Dec. 10, 1972
Winterland Arena

Supercharged Billy at the helm deconstructing and building layers of structure like a master architect. Some of his most inventive fills put to record
1
Me and My Uncle
July 16, 1972
Dillon Stadium

Notable for coming straight out of Cumberland and the alternate lyrics “And I Grabbed the Bottle, Grabbed Him in the Jaw” A cowboy classic.
1
Promised Land
Aug. 5, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Arena

Firing on all cylinders right out the gate. I'm certain Jerry's fretboard caught fire after that first solo. Impossible not to groove to.
1
El Paso
Dec. 4, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Delicate. Like a last waltz of the cowboy and his love, with each lick from Jerry conveying the urgency of the story. Keith makes such an impact here.
1
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 4, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Part of the beginning is cut off, but that doesn't stop this train from rolling on down the mines. Short and sweet.
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Comments

Bird Song
Sept. 9, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

What a spiraling staircase of a bird song. Starts off as a typical 72 version would, and then BAM, you’re hit with some incredibly intricate and quite whimsical interplay. Jerry plays some wonderfully inventive lines all throughout this. A very special version.
The Music Never Stopped
Dec. 28, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

Awesome eagle screech in the beginning. Just missing Donna.
Dark Star
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

Phil in particular is very interesting this show. It’s the energy, the energy he puts into each and every note is quite funny. It’s like he realized with each pluck each time his fingers graze over his strings, he realizes the energy that he puts out people can feed off of that. Instead of exploring musical themes, he’s exploring energy. Listen closely to him because it’s not super obvious at first but his playing here is stupendously interesting, not leading but influences. Lovely Keith being ripples in the water after Jerry casts a stone. Jerry also completely dances with melody with this one. Very cool Dark Star.
Dark Star
Aug. 27, 1972
Old Renaissance Faire Grounds

Starts as a Salvador Dali painting and then quickly dissolves into Jackson Pollock post the first verse. Whichever you prefer, is up to you, some may even enjoy both. I’m one of those people. All hype aside, this is a great Dark Star who’s classic status is deserved, but in the grand scheme of things, is merely a bench mark in the progress of psychedelic, spiritual, and space exploration. I don’t listen to this often, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Cryptical Envelopment
Sept. 2, 1968
Betty Nelson's Organic Raspberry Farm

Primal Dead. Like dinosaurs on a hunt, traversing lush and wild landscapes. Furious.
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