headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

as2191

Head'sAllEmpty

+1403


Submissions

9
Mexicali Blues
May 26, 1973
Kezar Stadium

They all nail it -- so bouncy and rapid and confident. The whole show is so cleanly recorded, too. Surprised this didn't have a single vote 'til now.
8
Uncle John's Band
March 18, 1977
Winterland Arena

Beautiful piano; lovely vocals; the dynamics are great. And a lovely set-closer after that scorching "Around and Around".
5
Drums
Dec. 26, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

The sheer SOUND of this is just so beautiful. Warm, booming, imposing, inviting -- it has CHARACTER
4
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 12, 1972
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

Transcendent stuff, stunningly spiritual. Jerry's isolated guitar track is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56ZSoHi8-u4
8
The Wheel
June 18, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Beautifully smooth rendition. A great 16mm video of it exists on YouTube -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf1dNTexCL4
show more submissions

Comments

Deal
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

This version is just absolutely perfect. THAT guitar.
The Other One
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Ridiculous that this isn't higher. Great transition into "Me and My Uncle"; it just rages at boiling point for 8 minutes before sliding into MAMU and then into "Spanish Jam".
Good Lovin'
Nov. 8, 1969
Fillmore West

This one rages! At 9 minutes it's pretty tight, everyone plays hard on the beat, and the band moves as one fast jubilant predator. Should be a higher-ranked rendition. From 'Dick's Picks Vol. 16'.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Phil's bass-work on this version is tasty and tasteful. Can't believe I only just heard this one! It's on the 'So Many Roads' box-set, and even if not the best rendition, it's certainly in the Top 10 of the ones I've heard. (And that's a lot of renditions.) Jerry's vocals are the best I've ever heard from him for this song.
Dark Star
Oct. 31, 1971
Ohio Theatre

From about the 13-minute mark it turns from gorgeous to utterly transcendent. It's like they were tapping into a whole other realm of deathlessly inventive melody to which no-one else was privy. And they keep it up for many, many minutes. I don't know if it's the best "Dark Star", but it's certainly the most melodically beautiful. Perfect for neophytes.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)