headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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quinn_76

thunder mtn

+1585


Submissions

11
Cassidy
Oct. 10, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

The previous night's version was tasty, but this one is delicious. The nomination for this one is long overdue. The whole show is quintessential '76
2
Bird Song
Dec. 26, 1981
Oakland Auditorium

Whoa! This one somehow slipped through the cracks - A hidden gem for sure!
7
Jack Straw
Oct. 31, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

Opens the first electric set from the last (and best) show from the 8 night run at NYC's Radio City Music Hall. Its nomination is long overdue!
5
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 17, 1978
Winterland Arena

This should be on the map. Follow it to find the treasure!
3
Me and My Uncle
June 8, 1974
Coliseum Stadium

Alert! This one not a throw-away. The best one of '74, no foolin'. Played with a perfect balance of gusto, gumption & grit.

Comments

Loser
March 24, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

One of the very best of the era for sure, but the best for all time? I don't think so. But I'm more partial to earlier eras of the Dead. Its arguments like these that bring to light the certain preexisting biases individuals bring before voting on "best ever" versions. I prefer earlier, pastoral versions like 8/6/71 and 2/26/73, and stately versions like 5/19/77 and 12/29/77. Tonight's version, from a technical, jam heavy, and emotive standpoint arguably beat my favorite versions. But I won't vote for it because I simply don't like the 1990s Dead sound nearly as much as the 1970s Dead sound. And therein lies the problem. We vote for what we like, not necessarily what we really think is the best. Are they mutually exclusive? I don't think they have to be. Music is subjective, objectively speaking!
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

A stellar opening for a stellar show!
Sing Me Back Home
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

just beautiful. Caps off a splendid second set.
Truckin'
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Agree with 'coralsand' here. This tight and charged Truckin' later segues into a blues tinged jam that turns into a jazz tinged jam. From there Phil takes the spotlight before the boys move into the Spanish Jam. Next they traverse into a spacey jam before finally landing into a Dark Star that all of four minutes long! It hardly matters, because the sequence taken as a whole amounts to a half hour of prime '73 Dead.
Playin' In The Band
March 22, 1973
Utica Memorial Auditorium

Stellar version. Listen to Phil's beetling thumps starting at the 7:00 minute mark!