headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
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Comments

He's Gone
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

double digits already please. Neglected I can only guess b/c of so many excellent versions in the '72-'74 era but this needs to be heard some more.
Morning Dew
Oct. 18, 1974
Winterland Arena

Whew. Move over Barton, & if not for the pure raw emotional old man Jerry voice power of 10/12//84 this would easily be my favorite. Technically speaking, this one is really the best. Jerry never sang it more beautifully, & unlike nearly every great version I can think of, the best guitar moment here is not in the big final coda, but in the jam following the "young man" section, a perfect blend of power & purpose & passion. What an amazing Dew. Again, if not for the raw emotional tsunami of 10/12/84 this would be my hands down favorite.
Black Throated Wind
June 23, 1974
Jai-Alai Fronton

Adding to the accolades for this excellent rendition w/Billy the true star as many have pointed out. This sounds better than ever as a DaP
Shakedown Street
March 18, 1990
Civic Center

total sleeper pick here, one of the best of the 90s for sure with ripping riffs & back up vox from Brent & great voice from Jerry as well. Faster paced jam again anchored by Brent. Really nice choice & surprisingly under the radar based on the mere 10 votes when I added mine.
Estimated Prophet
May 5, 1978
Thompson Arena - Dartmouth College

Get outta here that Garcia solo into the first jam break. This whole show is bonkers good & gets somehow overlooked but nothing in it is more under-appreciated than this stupendous EP. Better than many others currently sitting above.
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