headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Dupree's Diamond Blues
April 19, 1983
Alfond Arena, U of Maine

Underrated version notable for Brent paying homage to the calliope days of late 60's yore... and while Jerry's vocal is typical early-80s-strained he doesn't botch the lyrics & is clearly into the saga, driving the narrative along & with a nice wah wah solo 3/4 of the way through. Version was featured on 30 Days of Dead a few years back & is well worthy of upvote
Greatest Story Ever Told
May 10, 1972
Concertgebouw

wah wah heaven
Shakedown Street
April 6, 1982
The Spectrum

I always come back to this one. The Jerry//Brent conversation is gold and so is the rest
Bertha
May 12, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Patient, beautiful, mellow version with a lengthy bridge jam as is the norm for this year with this song...but this version stands out for Jerry's confident, easy vocal reading, and Bobby's numerous China Cat licks all over the early portions. Real nice Bertha here that could probably use some more vote-up
Bird Song
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

Yes new SBD source is the winner here..excellent Birdsong (was there not such an animal in ‘72?) but this whole show is a gem. Check out the DarkStar>BrokedownPalace too
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