headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

19
Satisfaction
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Weir: "We know we aint gonna get no satisfaction but we're gonna give it a try...You can scream& twist & beg & cry!"
71
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Lightning quick yet totally on-track riffs from Jerry; intense, powerful version. Weir 100% into it. Segues into killer Deal. Trust me. Must hear.
51
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Perfect wind up, pitch & strike down the middle. I've yet to hear a better one, though I'll try some of the recs here. Til then.....
29
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

From one of the greatest shows ever, a bring the house down killer. Keith w/perfect piano exc. point!
43
Althea
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Perfect groove and massive push from Phil post-lyrics
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Comments

Greatest Story Ever Told
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Unique, confident, just about damn near perfect. Slower, funkier pace to this one that starts with a slow drum beat after Bob implores Billy to get things started. Keith is also all over this version in the jam sections just crushing every fill he gets. Garcia cranks it up too but again at that more relaxed pace than usual.Top 5 all time territory here.
Morning Dew
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Unique among most Dews in that the intro is psychedelia - charged from the space jam it emerges from--rather than the usual dramatic ominous Phil bomb... this one brings some swirly/jangly carry-over and the rest is just Garcia and co. in charge of an emotional powerhouse version. Somehow less than 20 votes when I got here--deserves a much higher ranking.
Brown Eyed Women
March 18, 1977
Winterland Arena

Stellar version. May not have quite the extra g-round on the jam that marks some of the all timers like 11/4/77 but Keith shines on this one more than any other I'be heard and it's all around great stuff
Bird Song
Sept. 15, 1972
Boston Music Hall

No idea why I slept on this version (& this whole show in particular) for so long. Outstanding '72 Birdsong--vocally one of Jerry's best--and the China>Rider from this show is pretty killer too. Hidden gem.
Scarlet Begonias
July 3, 1984
Starlight Theatre

Easily overlooked as it doesn't connect directly to Fire but takes a turn into Touch instead...but this gets my upvote based on the Scarlet alone which really is beautifully played--some of the best pacing, especially on the flawless intro --propel us into a juicy and jammy '84 Garcia fingerpickin' fest of liquid lightning--check out the jam into Wind in the Willows--this is the stuff right here. Only caveat being Garcia's voice is in classic '84 stranglehold mode but he doesn't botch any lyrics and is giving it his all which more than makes up for the croaky vox. Real nice find here.
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