headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24518


Submissions

1
Ramble On Rose
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Insanely strong version inexplicably absent til now. Check out Garcia's guitar run into the "just like crazy Otto" line & you'll be ready to upvote!
1
Ship of Fools
March 21, 1981
Rainbow Theatre

Listen to Phil dig in to intro Jerry's mid-jam solo & Garcia croons this one gently & beautifully & the "caution all" stanza is glorious
5
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 6, 1977
Activity Center. Arizona State U

Thought every '77 Eyes was listed & lauded; could NOT believe this was left out. Dazzling power intro & cooks after too-check Jer's 1st solo!
2
Big River
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Was gonna comment only to see it not even listed. That oversight is almost as nuts as this killer version--all out jam w/a fireball finish!
5
Touch of Grey
Oct. 28, 1990
Zenith

Baffled after hearing DaP55 to NOT see this on the board. Opening tune-real tight -Jer nails lyrics & gets feisty at the end + Phil power chugs it. +1

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Nov. 25, 1973
Feyline Field

^^^backing up what mattiace said here about Phil monsterizing the opening stanza--not just Rider but the Cat too--thick, whomping, out-front-in-your-phace-Phil to get this excellent and somewhat overlooked version chugging hard out of the gate....then it's a cool, nuanced, almost laid back Garcia jazz-rock fusion clinic to follow. The Rider is as others have said super tight & focused. Very good entry here.
Row Jimmy
Nov. 25, 1973
Feyline Field

Slow, slinky, syrupy Jerry licks in between the verses. Billy just spot-on with every punctuation. They give Keith space to shine in the quiet parts of the main chorus, too. This song in general seems to get overlooked except for those who really love it and seek out great versions--if you're in that grouping get your ears on this one,
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 25, 1985
Blossom Music Center

Gave this one a spin based on the reviews & the fact that another '85 from just about a week earlier (6/15/85 from Greek Theater) is also among the overlooked cohort of 1985 ChinaRiders --it smokes--as does this one. I'm not a big fan of this year in general--as too many tunes are played choppily and Jerry's voice is usually in frog-croak range, but not so on this combo of tunes and this one really delivers the goods--a confident, everyone in sync bridge jam into Rider, which charges headlong to a great crescendo and deserves more ears. (and if you do like this version check out the Greek as well--a bit mellower but spot-on tightness and a lot of flavorful licks along the way).
Althea
March 20, 1981
Rainbow Theater

Just as good as the higher rated version from the following night. Both contain spectacular outro jams--excellence at both ends of the Rainbow room run.
Jack Straw
March 21, 1981
Rainbow Theatre

it does indeed. Big drums in this version too