headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Sept. 27, 1976
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Keith shines on a long, flowing intro section that spills into space-mellow Rat-Goodness
14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
5
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
38
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.
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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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