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

Bertha
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

All true about the unique sounding quality to this. Took me a few listens before realizing the familiar sounding but decidedly non-Bertha-like opening riff was just like a '73 version of "They Love Eeach Other" but it works great. Solid reading after that and a cool, confident Bertha that deserves more listens. Lots of Phil to enjoy too,
Big River
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Unreal. Utterly unique. Fantasmagoric syncopated start & overall feel.Unlike any Big River I've ever heard. Should skyrocket up the board if enough ears get on it. Wow!
Candyman
April 1, 1990
The Omni

Yeah, this one has that bluesy cadence and just the right amount of oomph in the solo. Jerry's voice this entire show is in that sweet spot...lots of grit and enough emotion to power through the rough spots. Up-vote worthy!
Stella Blue
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Self contained beauty. Early enough version that Jerry sings "can't keep from crying" instead of "gonna make 'em shine" but it kinda works better since we don't get any off key chorus repeat from Donna (I'm not a Donna hater on most tunes, but she killed so many versions of this tune at that key moment). This whole show is chock full of goodness...A+ versions of He's Gone and PITB among many others. +1 on this Stella.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 2, 1983
Boise Pavilion - Boise State University

There's some interesting stuff going on in the Slipknot! (although you have to like 'em speedy to enjoy it) & the Franklin's...I'm almost positive that around the 6;20-6:50 mark in Franklin's Jerry's playing a riff from what would later become "Foolish Heart"...it's not the full phrasing but pretty damn close & there are some other nice runs in the Franklin's too...but ultimately I can't upvote this because the "Help" is in dire need of just that. It's an absolute train wreck and almost un-listenable. For a far better reading of the trio in '83 try Red Rocks.
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