headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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

Uncle John's Band
Feb. 27, 1994
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Surprised, even bowled-over by how good--no, great--this version is. Love the 2 1/2 minute intro, the acoustic guitar sound, the sick jam Jerry treats us to before the return to the main theme in the coda. This isn't just fantastic for 1994--it's one of the very best from any era, and deserves to be top 3 all-time. Stunning stuff and a terrific recommendation. Oh, and the Supplication tease? Icing on the cake.
Stagger Lee
Dec. 16, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium

^^^^Very cool history lesson, Donnie...thank you! Next we need to dig into the legend of whether Dupree really killed a jewelry store owner for a $1,000 ring :-)
Smokestack Lightnin'
Feb. 8, 1970
Fillmore West

Jerry's final solo (with whole band in tow) digs down DEEP into jam-jam Hall of Fame stuff here. My favorite.
She Belongs To Me
Sept. 15, 1985
Devore Field

With all due respect to the Dick's Picks version currently ranked above this one, THIS is the most beautiful version of the classic Dylan tune the boys ever performed. Jerry's middle solo is like a drifting cloud you can't stop staring at. His vocal delivery here is stronger than 11/1 and the final solo digs deeper. I'd like to see this one in the #1 slot.
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Bestest of the best right here. Jerry belts out the vocals, nails all the lyrics. Confident, chunky Phil-led backbeat...and tons o' fun.