headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24637


Submissions

4
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 21, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

Keith's second show & he's all over this faster paced super fun honky tonk version!
5
The Weight
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

This is really the best one I've heard--everyobody nails their parts/lyrics...great piano fills on the side (yay, Bruce!). Just exactly, etc.
20
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!

Comments

The Other One
Jan. 22, 1978
McArthur Court, U of Oregon

^^^^I do agree there are elements of all that in that particular NFA from that show. (If that's what you're referring to and not this OO)...Do wish there was a better source...I'm not crazy about the AUD sources available for 12/19/78, although they're not terrible either.
Tennessee Jed
July 7, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Oh, does this one need more listens! So may great Jeds, but the special ones usually feature Jerry belting out the vocals and this Dawg delivers. Check out his "law come to get ya if you don't walk RIGHT!" line, and the rest is pretty hot too.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

From my favorite show of 1974. Everything shines in this one & this FOTD is one of the littler lovely gems.
Jack Straw
Nov. 6, 1979
The Spectrum

Here to bump this one for its uniqueness. Most Straws of upvote headiness are given such status for the lead-in to "Jack Straw from Wichita" and this one delivers, but it's what happens in the rest of the tune that really sets this one apart. There's a lot more musical innovation occurring in the sections between the climactic verse that make this a really outstanding version. Vocals are top notch, too. Very sweet rendition that deserves a climb on the ladder.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Jan. 8, 1979
Madison Square Garden

Gets my vote for greatest ever Donna transition section. Some will feel this immediately disqualifies it as a heady version, but I implore you to see beyond your Donna bias and realize what she's doing in this particular version: to scat and vamp and experiment with her voice without going overboard into the screech-filled warblings of early 70s PITB and GSET territory. Instead, Donna gets into the groove of the transition and really rides some instrumental-like vocal waves and it adds a whole new element and flavor to the song that most previous versions lack. So I'm upvoting this primarily b/c of Donna, but also it should be said that if a great SBD copy of this show existed, the rest of the band would deserve an A+ too! The AUD's not bad (CM after all), but the version's good enough that it aches for a clean SBD.