headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24601


Submissions

1
Aiko Aiko
Feb. 23, 1993
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Hey Now! Played on Mardi Gras day with 10 minute drum percussion lead-in to start the 2nd set! You'll like what the Big Chief say.
3
Space
March 16, 1990
Capital Centre

Not Space, but since there's no category for "jam" this beautiful calypso improv out of WomenRsmarter will have to do (also has an "Eyes" tease)
2
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 9, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

From the show always overshadowed by the next night, which is a shame. Fantastic Jerry/Brent conversation mid-jam. Give a listen!
11
Let It Grow
June 10, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Liquid
5
Althea
July 1, 1980
San Diego Sports Arena

3 versions on archive. Grab the SBD seeded by Brian Cole. Listen to the insane end jam. Listen to the whole thing. This is an A+++ version!

Comments

Stella Blue
Dec. 9, 1981
Activity Center - University of Colorado

Being perfectly honest, I was a little let down by this version. Outro, as cgarces noted, is the best part, but there's a tentativeness to the rest of the approach, especially at the beginning, as Jerry has trouble getting the lyrical phrasing to match the tempo of the music. It's a B- minus at best for me, mostly because there are so many better versions from this era, especially in 1982...the Ravenspace Stella from 4/19/82, for example, blows this outta the water
Eyes Of The World
June 18, 1976
Capitol Theatre

My guess is that this is so far down the list only because you have to get the Download Series Vol. 4 to hear a really good SBD version. Well....do it. This, (even for a year in which they played quite a few versions with the "backwards progression" of the Stronger Than Dirt theme done pre-lyrics instead of post) is a stand-out. The jamming has that flowing/mellow/1976 vibe but is also supremely confident and colorful, with constantly shifting ideas and landscapes explored in a lengthy intro. The Stronger Than Dirt theme isn't as fully fleshed out as its 1974 counterparts but that's a good thing here, because it would have distracted from the ultimate spill-over into the first verse. There's even a slow-down, mini-space break-down moment before they launch into the main theme proper and the rest of this gorgeous version just floats on air before heading into a drums>Wheel>SugarMag sequence that would do 1977 proud in terms of power and precision. THIS NEEDS TO BE WAY, WAAAAAY UPPED!
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 24, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

In this unique, faster-played but very precise and vocally beautiful early version, Delilah Jones raised "13 children" rather than "8 boys" and Daddy's whisky costs $3 instead of 2. A real treat, especially with the breezier clip at which it's played.
Friend of the Devil
Dec. 9, 1981
Activity Center - University of Colorado

Sold on this too after DaP20 listening.
Uncle John's Band
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

^^^^I just discovered 2/27/94 and was blown away by it. I'd seriously put it top 3 all time, although this one to me is the absolute best.