headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

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Submissions

1
Jack Straw
Sept. 18, 1983
Nevada County Fairgrounds

This show proves hot out of the gate with this fiercely jammed Jack Straw. The Andrew F recording sounds amazing, too.
1
Not Fade Away
April 5, 1989
Crisler Arena

More evidence for the NFAissance of 1989. Torn to shreds.
1
Drums -> Space
July 15, 1984
Greek Theatre - University of California

Xylophone loop madness in Drums, then a creepy two-note riff by Bobby surfaces several times in Space.
1
Feel Like A Stranger
April 5, 1989
Crisler Arena

En fuego! Masterfully executed, funky, slinky, and ultimately ripped to shreds.
3
Mexicali Blues
July 27, 1974
Civic Center

Another FAST ’74 version, it’s executed with so much swagger you’d swear they could go faster still.
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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.
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