headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catalonia

neshaminy

+2153


Submissions

4
Caution
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

This is a pretty intense early 80s-style Caution jam. I was surprised to find this just now.
5
The Music Never Stopped
Dec. 1, 1979
Stanley Theater

A unique beginning with nice peaks to both the mid jam and the outro.
3
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Feb. 4, 1979
Dane County Coliseum

The final Keith and Donna Half Step stands up well, even though there's one lonely AUD.
3
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
May 11, 1979
Billerica Forum

An early Brent Mydland Half Step with electric piano pre rio grandeo and a joyful Garcia solo afterwards.
7
Sugaree
Oct. 18, 1978
Winterland Arena

No fanning or soaring peaks, but solo 3 (7:45-12:45 on CM's SBD) is a new favorite - sublime, mellow, laid back.
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Comments

Sugaree
June 21, 1980
West High Auditorium

I like this one for Jerry's tone when he starts his second solo - its outer space travel soundtrack material. That follows one of those occasional solo breaks taken by Mydland in Sugaree early in his tenure.
The Other One
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

This one gets a vote for the outro which is so sweetly played into wharf rat. If you like the way Eyes goes into WR on 5/22/77, you'll find something similarly beautiful here. The Other One itself is solid (what on this box isn't?), but the outro is what brought me here.
Bird Song
March 9, 1981
Madison Square Garden

Jerry tears out of the gate on this solo. There are some weird choices and an emphatically psychedelic jazz aesthetic - it belongs up on the list. I saw some names I knew up here talking about this version a couple of days ago and made a mental note. These guys usually know what they're talking about.
To Lay Me Down
Dec. 31, 1980
Oakland Auditorium

Great call - there's a YT video and the playing and the harmonies say that this is peak dead. It's early on NYE and everyone's clear and on. A fantastic opener.
Samson and Delilah
Dec. 31, 1976
Cow Palace

This intro stands out. All other versions are so similar, it's hard not to wish that they'd played it like this at least occasionally. I'd have to put this close to the best ever, if not actually #1.
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