headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

5
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
Dec. 30, 1983
Civic Auditorium

Some of the smoothest rhythm Bobby ever laid down on this tune. Brent provides great harmony. Super sweetness here!
1
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
April 24, 1984
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

Rhythmic, bouncy, Uptempo BobbyBrentastic version
5
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
March 26, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Love when Brent takes the vocal on 2nd verse PLUS check out the little trade-off he & Bob do on lyrics in last stanza. Bouncy, jaunty, supefun stuff
5
Not Fade Away
Jan. 11, 1978
Shrine Auditorium

Solid rhythmic NFA with Donna in good form and a tasty little space outro
2
Me and My Uncle
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Garciia packs epic multitudes into his brief guitar solo. Check out this WAY under the radar MAMU>BigRiver pairing. One of the best ever.

Comments

Dark Star
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

Much like some of the 10-12 minute PITB's of the Europe '72 run deliver the goods as well as many marathon later versions do, this Dark Star gets down to business while still leaving plenty of room for Garcia to explore the universe with the rest of the crew keeping the ship on course when needed. A concise but bold & brilliant DS worthy of higher ranking. Lots to love here---don't dismiss it for being under half an hour!
Franklin's Tower
Dec. 28, 1980
Oakland Auditorium

Such an underrated gem here--check out Jerry's hard bite vocal on "One watched by NIGHT" & the ensuing jam shredder that follows.
Franklin's Tower
Sept. 23, 1987
The Spectrum

^^^^^Yes!Indeedy! Total sleeper pick here. I agree this is how Franklin's is best played--uptempo but not too fast clip, crunchy Jerry guitar fills & lots of nice tinkling by Brent not mucked up by using fisher price sounds--more traditional key sound here--and unlike some older versions, there's no drag here or lull in the middle--propulsive, driving and yet still beautiful in spots--this is a five star Franklin's hiding in plain view & just waiting to be discovered. I recommend the Healy matrix--and make sure you check out Jerry's impassioned growling in the outro chorus. Excellent recommend!
Comes A Time
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

Had to add to this vote total b/c on further listening the guitar solo is nearly as pristine as 5/9/77 & has its own special touch of Jerry--slinky, almost dragging across the strings but w/out losing the gentleness that marks the solo-- & this version has overall better vocals (by a hair, but still)....Buffalo still deserves its top spot for the indescribable "it" or "X" factor, but this gorgeous version is every bit as worthy if not "the" one.
Touch of Grey
March 27, 1987
Civic Center

One of the best things about the new DaP is getting this awesome version in tip top matrix form.