headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catman

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Sugaree
Dec. 1, 1979
Stanley Theater

I concur, this is my personal favorite Sugaree, certainly needs to be higher up the list. This is Brent making the band "dangerous" again. This whole show is always in my playlist rotation.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
July 14, 1990
Foxboro Stadium

Can't believe this one is so low on the list. If you like Brent, his undertones really bounce underneath this one and Jerry takes an extended early jam that rachets up the energy. A perfect transition to Throwing Stones (which is cut in the wrong spot on the linked Archive show) finishes off this flawless rendition, it was one of the highlights of the show for me and a near perfect rendering of the song, even if there is nothing "unusual" about it to make it a top 10 version. Worth a listen!
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
March 24, 1993
Dean Smith Center

Wow, I don't know how I missed one but this kicks some serious 90's ass. For the era you cannot get better than this one. 90's haters forget that Spring 93 was a good run for the Dead, it sort of fell off the tracks right after that tour.
Dark Star
July 13, 1984
Greek Theatre, U. Of California

For years this was the only Dark Star I could listen to, when I was younger I could not appreciate the early versions as I do now. That said, I always come back to this one, primarily because it is the only one they played when they had this particular sound set up - the 84-85 sound mix is my absolute favorite era for the Dead, it has the perfect balance of all the instruments and a more powerful low end presence (i.e. phil's bass is distict and meaty) than than many other eras.
Friend of the Devil
July 2, 1989
Sullivan Stadium

This was my 5th show and so I could not fully appreciate this FOTD as I had the tape for years and assumed this is how they played it much of the time! I guess I was lucky! As for why they cranked it up, if you listen to the whole show, this is clearly a drummer's show. It may be the best example I have heard of Billy and Mickey taking over an entire show, they are throwing in extra beats all over the place the entire night and ramping up the energy in what is otherwise not a A-grade performance from anyone else. Another standout is Brent's Dear Mr Fantasy/Hey Jude which is the best version they ever played of that combo.