headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+5024


Submissions

2
Pretty Peggy O
Nov. 20, 1985
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center

Seemingly looser and jammier than some, with some great musical conversations.
4
Candyman
July 5, 1978
Omaha Civic Auditorium

Slick, efficient Garcia solo, plus some cool flourishes by the Godchauxs.
3
Friend of the Devil
June 12, 1976
Music Hall

Perfectly phrased and chosen melody lines from Jerry. Another astonishing FOTD of the era.
6
Samson and Delilah
June 10, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Phil’s and Jerry’s sixteenth-note runs light up this version with a country-blues twang faintly reminiscent of Cumberland.
2
Space
June 27, 1983
Poplar Creek Music Theater

Shimmering, dazed Space highlighted by some of Brent’s wildest keyboard tones and textures.
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Comments

St. Stephen
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

“Some of the worst singing the Dead ever did”? You’ve got to be kidding me. There are some vocal performances from the ’60s and mid-’80s that would like to have a word with you. This is average singing from one of their better years vocally. Also, the noodling here is fairly substantive. All in all, an easy upvote, if not quite the absolute best post-hiatus version. (Check out 1/11/78!)
China Doll
Sept. 10, 1983
Downs of Santa Fe

I love the ’83-style pre-Drums China Dolls. Jerry and Phil bail on the jam pretty quickly, but then we get to enjoy some fine, harmonically adventurous Bobby, Brent, and Rhythm Devils jamming. Great stuff.
Bertha
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Uptempo but not rushed, effervescent, and clean as a whistle. There are a ton of great May '77 Berthas, and this is one of them. Don't miss it.
Friend of the Devil
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Keith’s smoooooth chromatic scale entry into his solo must be heard to be believed.
One More Saturday Night
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Apparently the version on the box set is from 5/28/77, as the 5/13 tape was irreparably damaged. The Archive links are truly 5/13, though.
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