headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
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Comments

Stella Blue
Sept. 2, 1979
Augusta Civic Center

Folks who like '79 Terrapins should give a listen to this Stella, given the same mellow, poignant, well-played treatment. Sweet version from a greatly underrated show
Eyes Of The World
March 20, 1991
Capital Centre

One of the best intros of the 90s versions, a 2 1/2 minute grooved out extravaganza that sets the tone for as jazzy and entry as you'll find outside of a Marsalis appearance. This is one of the finest "Eyes" of the latter day Dead, a top 5-er for sure, I'd have no problem grouping this one in with 3/25/90, 3/31/91, the opener at Giants Stadium (it's actually better) and 3/29/90. One thing I'm sure of--it deserves WAY more listens and a higher ranking.
The Eleven
April 27, 1969
Labor Temple

+1 just for the way it emerges flawlessly from the Other One & glides back in for the reprise. Everything in between is amazing as well & Jerry is doing liquid leads especially after the verse. Gold standard stuff.
Dark Star
April 27, 1969
Labor Temple

Grunge rock Dark Star. Jerry never stops playing his fuzzed-out acid drenched chops off in this one, unique among Stars I've heard from this era that almost always feature floaty, deep-space, twinkling Mickey-gong segments, but this puppy never stops romping all over the space provided, with the rest of the band adding the out-of-earth flourishes as Jerry just cranks his guitar and lets his fingers fly. Worth grabbing the official DP26 release for best sound quality. Exceptional DS'69 here.
The Other One
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

So much going on in this way way way underrated version--including a subtle butr quite distinct "Let It Grow" jam dropped in the midst of things. I'm on a mission to get this at least into double digits. Check out this monster version...spacey, multiple Jerry runs, peaks. great rumbling Phil intro, and the killer "Let It Grow" phrasing...get on this, folks.
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