headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


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

Playin' In The Band
Dec. 3, 1979
Uptown Theatre

+: Whatever dime the band turns on at just around 6 minutes in is absolutely astonishing. It's a subtle turn, but you can't miss it either, & it just takes the whole jam off into a new direction in tone, space, and scope. There really should be a lot more ears on this version, esp. now with the great sound from the official release. But even if you don't have it, check out one of the archive versions & hear this one again.
Brown Eyed Women
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Great solo indeed but they're keeping--or not keeping--a super weird beat here....like, it's way way way way off...takes some getting used to that's fer sure. Upvoting due to that hot solo & the overall uniqueness of this oddball beat. Nice read by jer on "Daddy made whiskey " line too. This whole show is the dark horse of April 78 which gets most of the attention for 4/8, 4/12/, 4/16, and 4/24.
Casey Jones
Dec. 31, 1978
Winterland Arena

Jaunty, kickin' straight ahead 70s rock version. Jerry vox is phenomenal here. & Donna sounds great too. I think this one is ranked relatively low on the chart only b/c so many other songs from this A+ show garner all the attention (& deservedly so), but don't overlook this sweet CJ nugget from the last ever Winterland performance.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 8, 1983
Red Rocks

^^^^ Yep, suffers from lack of a decent SBD. Many '83 versions do (UVM for example) but it's too bad b/c that was a good year for the combo.
Playin' In The Band
April 22, 1977
The Spectrum

Spectacular self contained trip back to ‘72 style with a precision ‘77 sensibility.
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