headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.
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Comments

Greatest Story Ever Told
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Unique, confident, just about damn near perfect. Slower, funkier pace to this one that starts with a slow drum beat after Bob implores Billy to get things started. Keith is also all over this version in the jam sections just crushing every fill he gets. Garcia cranks it up too but again at that more relaxed pace than usual.Top 5 all time territory here.
Morning Dew
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Unique among most Dews in that the intro is psychedelia - charged from the space jam it emerges from--rather than the usual dramatic ominous Phil bomb... this one brings some swirly/jangly carry-over and the rest is just Garcia and co. in charge of an emotional powerhouse version. Somehow less than 20 votes when I got here--deserves a much higher ranking.
Brown Eyed Women
March 18, 1977
Winterland Arena

Stellar version. May not have quite the extra g-round on the jam that marks some of the all timers like 11/4/77 but Keith shines on this one more than any other I'be heard and it's all around great stuff
Bird Song
Sept. 15, 1972
Boston Music Hall

No idea why I slept on this version (& this whole show in particular) for so long. Outstanding '72 Birdsong--vocally one of Jerry's best--and the China>Rider from this show is pretty killer too. Hidden gem.
Scarlet Begonias
July 3, 1984
Starlight Theatre

Easily overlooked as it doesn't connect directly to Fire but takes a turn into Touch instead...but this gets my upvote based on the Scarlet alone which really is beautifully played--some of the best pacing, especially on the flawless intro --propel us into a juicy and jammy '84 Garcia fingerpickin' fest of liquid lightning--check out the jam into Wind in the Willows--this is the stuff right here. Only caveat being Garcia's voice is in classic '84 stranglehold mode but he doesn't botch any lyrics and is giving it his all which more than makes up for the croaky vox. Real nice find here.
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