headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24561


Submissions

10
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

Can't believe what short shrift this show gets. They pull off the combo like gangbusters here.
5
Loser
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Glorious Jerry vocals, not one, but TWO "sweet Susie's", excellent gritty solo. Best early version ever!
4
Aiko Aiko
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Submitting this on Fat Tuesday 2017. Great Mardi Gras version with really nice piano (!) fills by Brent that oughta be heard!
5
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

Get on this one, folks. It's a ripper.
13
Let It Grow
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Absolute best of 1974. Not kidding. Jerry's leads are ripping & confident. The band plays flawlessly.Can stand w/some of the best of '77. Must hear.

Comments

Dire Wolf
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A) This is a great DW. I should have upped it earlier, B) As to the discussion about posting multiple versions of same songs, I don't mind that too much. I've long ago given up on believing that these rankings/comments are always reflecting "the best" of any one version. What I find most helpful is when some one tells me WHY this version deserves an upgrade or is better than one ahead of it. I look for descriptions and perspectives from the other heads here to parse out versions I may have otherwise overlooked.
Bird Song
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

^^^^Agreed. A perfect BirdSong year with so many gems to choose from...the challenge is to parse out the subtle differences of each and find the moments that make the individual performances stand out.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

^^^^That’s a mighty fine list. Point taken about the spacey quality on some of those Nov. ‘73 versions ... it is weird how they dropped it as you said just when it was hitting stride.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Ed, don't forget 2/23/74...truly I think the #1 even tho' it's not in that slot.
Terrapin Station
Nov. 1, 1977
Cobo Arena

Top contender for most underrated Terrapin out there. Could make a similar argument for this being a very under the radar show for '77.