headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

7
Big River
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Segues perfectly out of MAMU and rolls along beautifully til Jerry goes ballistic on the last solo. Must hear.
5
China Cat Sunflower
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Nice early stand alone with a long intro. You can hear the transition from the old intro to the more familiar pickings of later versions.
5
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Not really a darkness jam but more of a dark star jam than what it's listed as (PITB) leads into Wharf Rat & is beyond beautiful.
8
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

The boys really "throw a mess" on this one, making the carrier dome sound like a down and dirty old time saloon. Slinky sick stuff
2
Row Jimmy
April 18, 1987
Irvine Meadows

Check out Jerry's "giddy-up" riffs in the final "Row" choruses!
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Comments

Friend of the Devil
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Might just be the greatest instrumental bridge jam section prior to final verse that they ever did in this tune. Spellbinding flowing layered & beautiful
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Love Jerry’s vocal on this one. Into it from the get-go with lots of grit and gusto
Here Comes Sunshine
March 18, 1994
Rosemont Horizon

Upping this for the energy/effort factor. Not crazy about the aforementioned Vinny synth sounds (I’m no midi fan either) but this is an uptempo, highly groovy reading of a classic & one of my favorite Wake of the Flood tunes, and I appreciate the band still giving it their all in a pretty rocky year. (Best to go in without first hearing one of the old gems from ‘73 though, because there’s virtually no long jazz jamming in this latter day version)
Brother Esau
April 20, 1984
Philadelphia Civic Center

The versions with the long wind-ups are my favorite & this one features a cool, patient, slinky intro section. Such an underrated Bobby tune--very nice one here. 10/28/85 at the Fox is another good one.
Aiko Aiko
March 27, 1988
Hampton Coliseum

Tight li'l nugget right here, surprised it's not higher--Jerry belts out each verse!
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