headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
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Comments

Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Astonishing that they could take a song so long in the rotation and have one stand out as beautifully as this. Almost like a completely different tune compared with the more aggressive versions that (deservedly) get a ton of attention--i.e. 12/27/77. 9/3/77, and 4/16/78 which all feature "heavier" Garcia solos but for pure beauty and full band engagement (more to love for Phil and Keith fans here) this one deserves its place in the pantheon of the greatest ever. Another runner up (if you're craving a five star mellow version) can be found at 6/30/74.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 4, 1977
The Palladium

Re-listening after the DaPicks vol 50 release and my oh my even with its relatively high vote total on the board this one is still grossly underrated. Listen to how Phil subtly elongates the bass notes before they drop into the Fire theme after the lovely transition. Donna sparkles here, too. The whole band does. When you consider the versions played from here right thru Barton and the also vastly underappreciated 5/11 version in MN. this is a master class stretch of the finest '77 versions around. This one still gets somewhat lost in the shuffle, tho', and it could use some more ears and votes methinks.
Cassidy
April 16, 1978
Huntington Civic Center

Contrarian opinion here--nice version for most of the tune but it ultimately falls short because they flub the landing at the end. Awkward re-entry at best to "flight of the seabirds". Can't upvote it when there are so many better performed versions from the same year (5/14, 4/24 just to name a couple)
Mind Left Body Jam
March 10, 1993
Rosemont Horizon

Everything said plus extra points for the relative rarity of getting to hear this gem in this particular era. Really tender, almost nostalgic, pulled off beautifully.
Wang Dang Doodle
June 22, 1991
Soldier Field

Heck, I'm upvoting this too despite the MIDI which really is actually pretty cool in this version--plus, Bobby's all in vocally. Snuff juice everywhere.
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