headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

Can't believe what short shrift this show gets. They pull off the combo like gangbusters here.
5
Loser
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Glorious Jerry vocals, not one, but TWO "sweet Susie's", excellent gritty solo. Best early version ever!
4
Aiko Aiko
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Submitting this on Fat Tuesday 2017. Great Mardi Gras version with really nice piano (!) fills by Brent that oughta be heard!
5
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

Get on this one, folks. It's a ripper.
13
Let It Grow
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Absolute best of 1974. Not kidding. Jerry's leads are ripping & confident. The band plays flawlessly.Can stand w/some of the best of '77. Must hear.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

Better than a lot of ones from the same year currently higher on the ladder. Blissful post second verse second jam.
Wharf Rat
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

Great point Carrion makes about the Birdsongish quality of this Rat, especially in the outro jam which manages to be dreamy and intense all at once. Great vox from Jerry on this one too. I prefer this song mostly in 1977 but of the pre ‘77 versions this might be my favorite especially as heard in the new Pacific Northwest box set. Excellent group of shows and hopefully this one will get attention beyond the 46 min. PITB
He's Gone
June 7, 1977
Winterland Arena

Hadn’t listened to this one in forever. End jam has got to be the best they ever did for this tune. Easy +1 & glad for all the commentary on it.
Terrapin Station
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

^^^^That’s a wonderful story! Cool too that you got your old man to admit he likes the Cornell BEW. I’m with you in my passion for this tune, it’s one of my very favorites of the 1st set variety along with Row Jimmy and Cassidy so I guess that’s why I care enough to claim that a version like 11/4/77 is so much better than Cornell. I’ve gone back and listened a lot to 5/8 since the official release and it’s undoubtedly strong in almost every way but I’m still caught on having that particular version being #1. I can’t prove it but my guess is if the date label were removed it’d come in top 3-5, but not in 1st place. And I’d be fine with that.
Morning Dew
March 27, 1994
Nassau Coliseum

What gets me most is how stupendously strong Garcia’s vocals are on this version. He’s belting it out like he’s 20 years younger but he still also adds that veteran grizzle that made the song even more emotionally powerful in his later days. The playing is great too and he nails the obligatory shredded outro but it’s really astonishing that this is sung in ‘94. It’s crazy good and I have no problem saying a top 10 all time version.
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