headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

Can't believe what short shrift this show gets. They pull off the combo like gangbusters here.
5
Loser
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Glorious Jerry vocals, not one, but TWO "sweet Susie's", excellent gritty solo. Best early version ever!
4
Aiko Aiko
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Submitting this on Fat Tuesday 2017. Great Mardi Gras version with really nice piano (!) fills by Brent that oughta be heard!
5
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

Get on this one, folks. It's a ripper.
13
Let It Grow
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Absolute best of 1974. Not kidding. Jerry's leads are ripping & confident. The band plays flawlessly.Can stand w/some of the best of '77. Must hear.
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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.
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