headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+5024


Submissions

5
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 10, 1983
Downs of Santa Fe

More sinister than seductively psychedelic. -> A fairly uptempo China Doll, forming one of my favorite ’83 combos.
3
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 19, 1989
Shoreline Amphitheatre

Just ferocious by the end of Rider, but there’s lots to enjoy all the way through this combo.
6
Ramble On Rose
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Much like the Philly version a week earlier, this one really shines.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Subtly experimental transition jam seems to hint at “Feelin’ Groovy” without stating the theme outright.
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Just two days before one of the consensus favorites, this version is BLAZING.
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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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