headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

Dug down the list to find this sweet as marmalade jazz jam from a sadly overlooked 1973 performance in Charm City. & this is really a charming version. The first two Garcia led jam breaks are floating little miracles. Nicely sung, too, & turn it up for Keith.
Throwing Stones
Sept. 22, 1993
Madison Square Garden

^^^^ Well mcjed, you've got me sold on a Sept. 90 MSG boxed set!! Will need to dig deeper into the archive to find some of those shows/songs you mentioned, having been to only 2 of those 6 MSG shows in that run. Remember the giant inflatable tie-dye-wearing King Kong they put up over the entrance? Magnificent. Gone are the days...
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

^^^^Thanks Quinn for explaining the extra long intro which is awesome & I wish had been utilized more often, broken string or not. Excellent version here w/an approach to the FG jam --never realized--but perfectly fine that it doesn't occur as the transition flows nicely w/out it. Only explanation I can imagine for the ridiculously low ranking here is that the version I have cuts out near the end of IKYR but I am going to search for other copies that have the complete tune. Otherwise this version is top notch '72 magic.
Row Jimmy
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

^^^^Preach. Couldn't agree more. Nothing "wrong" with this version but like the Brown Eyed Women from this show with tons of votes it's clear that the only reason they're heralded is because of the date attached to the performance. Here are 4 RJ's vastly better than this one just off the top of my head: 3/20/77 (the very best), 4/12/78, 2/28/73, and 5/3/77. I'm sure there are others.
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
May 12, 1991
Shoreline Amphitheatre

Underrated even among a small sampling for this tune. Check out the liquid guitar break mid section & Jerry's committed vocals. Easy plus one.
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