headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4714


Submissions

1
Row Jimmy
June 21, 1976
Tower Theater

Intense and electrifying, highlighted perhaps by Jerry’s vocal performance. Another amazing June ’76 Row Jimmy.
3
I Need A Miracle
Dec. 17, 1978
Fox Theatre

Hot early version with a well-developed Jerry-led outro jam. Check out the amazing Joann Walker recording.
2
Space
April 29, 1984
Nassau Coliseum

Unusual, long Space for the era. Fans of Feedback will enjoy this one.
3
Drums -> Space
Feb. 17, 1982
Warfield Theater

Carnival of sounds and textures. Wild stuff.
5
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

Pummeling version with Phil cranked UP in the mix.

Comments

The Wheel
April 25, 1983
The Spectrum

As has been said, there’s a unique (if brief) jam between The Wheel proper and Playin’ that makes this version worth hearing.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

Damn, Keith is ALL over this show. Check out that perfectly timed chromatic run leading up to the drop into A major. Then he switches to electric (Fender Rhodes) for the delicate start of the Rio Grande-o section. But the whole band’s sense of dynamics is just expert here, and that may be just as sweet as the extra few minutes of jamming we’d get in a ’77 version. “YMMV.”
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

It doesn’t get much better than this. Even with the stiff competition of 1974, I’d say this is one of the best versions of the year.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

This thing is killer. There are a lot of improvisational flourishes in China Cat and Rider proper as well as in the transition jam. In China Cat, almost none of Jerry’s lines sound like anything he usually plays there. In Rider, listen to how Keith really attacks the last instrumental break. And Phil is so creative throughout, often playing, it seems, one step off the “expected” note and really building the tension.
Scarlet Begonias
April 18, 1978
Civic Arena

This is an exciting and exquisitely crafted Scarlet. Just do not miss it.