headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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SlowlyTooFades

90s aficionado

+1455


Submissions

3
Truckin'
March 7, 1981
Cole Field House

From a kind of under the radar show: Truckin out of space winds down into a spacey jam, atypical of the period.
6
Cryptical Envelopment
Sept. 3, 1985
Starlight Theater

Really, none of these '85 versions are all that great (except as novelties), but this one is probably the strongest. JG gets all the words right!
5
Bertha
Oct. 19, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Okay, so maybe Garcia drops some words (& even verses) here and there...it gives him an opportunity for an extra long solo, which winds around nicely.
13
Ripple
Dec. 6, 1980
Mill Valley Recreation Center

With the small crowd you can actually hear the band sing!
6
Crazy Fingers
Sept. 7, 1985
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Classic version. Segues into Samson.

Comments

Playin' In The Band
April 19, 1986
Berkeley Community Theater

Echoing the last comment: great weirdness near the end, especially thanks to Mr. Mydland.
Deal
Oct. 17, 1983
Olympic Center

One of the hottest versions, to be sure. A great part is actually the vocal reprise, which they sing forever; and you can hear in their voices that they know they've thrown down a version for the ages.
Playin' In The Band
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

One of my favorites, and a tape where I prefer the audience to soundboard recordings. It's got that great, warm Wall of Sound ambience throughout. And when Jerry hits the Tiger/feedback portion, it just WAILS. Also, the audience's anticipation as they take their time getting back to the theme: priceless.
Let It Grow
June 28, 1974
Boston Garden

Surprised this isn't ranked more highly: the jam out of Let It Grow goes so many places, for a long time this was my favorite Dead jam period.
Let It Grow
Dec. 5, 1981
Market Square Arena

Yes! I had it on an old audience tape where the crowd kicked in as JG burned it up, just exactly perfect!