headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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merryjerry

wacked

+6835


Submissions

9
The Wheel
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

It's so apt that The Wheel would roll into Truckin' that the outro is short but the rest is very nice.
9
Eyes Of The World
June 27, 1984
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Jerry really mines the changes on this one and pulls out plenty of little gold nuggets (like Coltrane). Good interplay, too. An inspired version.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

A cheesy video of this kickass version would have Garcia playing atop a steam locomotive as it barrels down the track.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Incomplete, but what remains is top-notch and essential.
12
Me and Bobby McGee
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

I just gotta nominate this one, that's all.

Comments

St. Stephen
Feb. 27, 1969
Fillmore West

This thing is seared into my brain.
Morning Dew
Nov. 13, 1972
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall

Really, really good stuff. It feels more like you're in a boat out in the swells than in some post-apocalyptic suburban or urban area. A great group effort that deserves more attention. You can easily get this and a nice Dark Star recorded by Bear himself off of the archive. (Update: If you like the feel of this version, check out 10/2/72, as it strikes me as a sibling version that is also very good. Plus, it comes out of a pretty good 'Feelin' Groovy' jam. Fall '72!)
Dancin' in the Streets
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

This is some hot stuff. May be my go-to version.
The Other One
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

About 35 minutes of as good as it gets. The brilliance of 'Me and Bobby McGee' rising up out of the abstractness, only to go out into the abstractness from which it was borne seems like a metaphor for the existence of humankind (or is it consciousness?) itself.
The Other One
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Good version seasoned with a little late '70s country rock feel.