headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Satisfaction
Aug. 8, 1982
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

How have I not heard this before? The Wang Dang riff near the end is priceless and the whole version rocks. Bob at his rock star best.
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 31, 1973
War Memorial

Come for the mini Stephen jam, stay for the mellow flow and funk that makes this one a keeper.
Row Jimmy
May 16, 1978
Uptown Theater

So glad I checked this out whereas I normally dismiss AUD only sources (admitted SBD snob) but this is an A+ AUD recording & more importantly an outstanding version of one of my all time favorite Dead tunes--silky, flowing --lots of nice little additions by Keith in a year when he was sometimes MIA... Jerry's solos are deep and rich and not to be missed. Played at a slightly faster clip than many other versions too so if you're put off by some of the slower paced RJ's do yourself a favor and check in on this one. Hiding in plain sight and really worthy of some increased listening : https://archive.org/details/gd78-05-16.akg.weiner.8333.sbeok.shnf?webamp=default
He's Gone
May 16, 1978
Uptown Theater

It's true you've never heard a He'sGone intro quite like this one...loose and jangly and spilling into the main theme only after taking a walk-about around differently-angled accents...settles in nicely after that and flows along as many of the greats do. Fine sleeper pick and worthy of upvoting.
Candyman
Sept. 3, 1980
Civic Center

I am floored by the smoky silkiness of Jerry's vocals in this perfecto version that should be listened to en masse and upvoted accordingly...delicate, spider-thread notes float from Garcia's fingers and the Brent-backed harmonies are the icing on the cake.
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