headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

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Submissions

1
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Nov. 15, 1969
Lanai Theater

Bouncy as it is lysergic. Unique phrasing from Jerry. Everybody’s vocals are on. The Rider is some pure country fried jamming if I’ve ever heard it.
1
Turn On Your Love Light
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

This is The Dead at peak performance level. Cataclysmic version. Everyone is ON. Explorative and not a beat missed. Easily top 5 of 69.
2
Dire Wolf
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Nice early electric version. Always preferred this key for Dire Wolf compared to when they changed it in the later years. Just right. Nice version.
1
Next Time You See Me
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Takes you right to Chicago. Jerry’s playing emulates the blues greats. Hard rocking version that reminds me of a Junior Wells cut. Highly recommend.
1
High Time
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Haunting organ playing. Crystalline and psychedelic early version that feels very spacey. Great vocal delivery.
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Comments

Let It Grow
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

That turkey gobble made me let out a little chuckle. During the jam before the last verse, there’s some weird tape interference which genuinely sounds like a turkey. Regardless of that Jerry is utterly relentless showing off his chops on this Olympic exercise of a song. As a guitar player, this song is crazy difficult to solo over, and Jerry just soars over this with some incredibly beautiful and powerful phrasing. It’s stuff like this that really makes me appreciate his musicianship.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

^Great reccomendation bzfgt. You can hear how synched up these guys are, especially when you compare it to the beginning of the year, this is as naturally played as it could be, it's like breathing for them, very second nature for them at this point. The subtle changes in dynamics during the jam at the end shows a thirst for musical innovation through some enlightening interplay and melodic inventiveness, this gives a peak into what this song will become in 74. Just wonderful.
Dark Star
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

A call out for life in our ever expansive universe, ultimately coming into direct contact with extraterrestrials. This is music for a seraphim, with machine elves working their trickster magic on the listener and giving them a peak of what's really out there, but never giving it all away. Keith in particular stands out for me on this one, he adds such wonder and curiosity, with Phil conjuring ancient melodies of old, and the band exploring these beautiful chromatic spaces that truly leaves your head empty to eventually fill it with bliss and ancient arcane knowledge. A stunning MLB and creative and imaginative geometric landscapes, this what late 73 is all about.
Cassidy
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Really shocked to see so little votes for this version, Jerry is particularly bouncy all throughout, a swinging rendition that’ll make you wanna groove and groove, and then groove some more. Cassidy is one of those songs that when it’s on, it’s one of my favorites of a late 70s or even early 80s set.
Dire Wolf
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

One of the last if not the last Dire Wolf in its original key of A, from here on they transpose it to C for the rest of their careers. Feels like sitting around a campfire and listening to a story passed down from generation to generation, fire raging, the hum of insects in the air, on a warm and temperate humid night. Great version.
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