headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

7
Big River
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Segues perfectly out of MAMU and rolls along beautifully til Jerry goes ballistic on the last solo. Must hear.
5
China Cat Sunflower
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Nice early stand alone with a long intro. You can hear the transition from the old intro to the more familiar pickings of later versions.
5
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Not really a darkness jam but more of a dark star jam than what it's listed as (PITB) leads into Wharf Rat & is beyond beautiful.
8
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

The boys really "throw a mess" on this one, making the carrier dome sound like a down and dirty old time saloon. Slinky sick stuff
2
Row Jimmy
April 18, 1987
Irvine Meadows

Check out Jerry's "giddy-up" riffs in the final "Row" choruses!
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Comments

Me and My Uncle
May 10, 1969
Rose Palace

Oh heck yeah this is the "Now for something completely different" MAMU you've been looking for...extra twangy guitar from Jerry--a raucous, barroom brawlin' version with so much more swagger than the usual suspect first set fodder we associate (admit it) with this tune in the 1980s. This version brings the tune to life, true to its gritty down n dirty rock-country origins.
Tennessee Jed
June 23, 1990
Autzen Stadium

Two things are necessary for a truly great T-Jed: 1) Jerry needs to nail all the lyrics & sing 'em, with gusto--check, and 2) the wind-up jam has to be epic--double check. You can't ask for much more with this version--the underrated highlight from set 1 of this fine show. Crazy this version isn't into double digits yet.
He's Gone
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Jerry's "smile smile SMIIIIILLLE"!!" line alone should be enough to get this one higher up the ladder but the whole thing is deserving with Garcia completely dialed in to every lyric, some great jamming and a beautiful coda backed up by Brent's perfecto harmonies. Kind of at a loss as to why so many songs from this incredible show are so low on the list. Forget the novelty of the poorly played Revolution encore and check out the "ordinary" songs from this show b/c they're anything but that.
Truckin'
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Another far better than its current ranking & in need of bumpage. Great ensemble vocals on this one...nice jam after the lyrics
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Gobs better than I remembered it being. New box set revealing how great these MSG shows were -- most especially the two nights from '83
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