headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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BeggarsTomb48

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Submissions

3
Big Boss Man
March 23, 1972
Academy of Music

Beefy stetson hat workout. Ravishing harp and fun fender deluxe reverb tones.
3
Samson and Delilah
June 16, 1985
Greek Theater

Not unheard of to go into this after scarlet fire (34 times) still, something of a wacky pranksterish reset. Speedy and powerful version with growl.
2
Big River
July 13, 1985
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Devils come alive. Joy ride to wirepickin' ecstatic oblivion. Furiously active yet not autobahn, deep 80s
1
Drums -> Space
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Great one. Kits duet is really inspired. Space curdles out with noise but gets jester's hat nightmare with vocal pranks. Beautiful long bluesy intro
1
El Paso
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Stagger lee>el paso>crazy fingers>supplication>high time. hetty

Comments

Morning Dew
April 17, 1969
Washington U.

Utterly fascinating stuff for me, the novice head. Morning Dew has not quite become the torch anthem that it would and it's more of a mid-tempo thing still with dancing and grooving in mind more so than pondering existential questions. This being said, this thing is still just dripping with raw psychedelia. You can't make this stuff up, it's wavy trembly and rippling, that small piece of paper that makes your skin tingle and your spirit free. This is from the years when the Dead were still probably dosing before shows, I think. The jamming "goes the distance" on this speedy dew! Constanten on the vox continental!!! Sometimes it's kind of hard to listen to Jerry's uncontrollably wavering, yelping and thin vocals on this version. His overall vocal quality would start to improve drastically in the next 5 years alone.
Hard to Handle
April 17, 1969
Washington U.

Bear, we all set? we got. alost brown dog out here somewhere. If anyone could bring any lemonades or cokes to the band, they're pretty thirsty!!! Heady emceeing intro, anyone know who that is? Anyways this shit is just shredding and nasty. It has that uninhibited, testosterone-filled, garage pounding vibe. I love pigpen forever. It's no 8/6/71 but i love it. Really need to get into more 60's dead if anyone has any primo shows from that era.
The Wheel
Dec. 5, 1981
Market Square Arena

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dpu4TPkRkI Absolutely fabulous, whirlingly positive and radiant. Anyone as enraptured with this tune will love this 81 version, tight and explosive whole years in there, for real!!!!!!!!!
Morning Dew
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

vindicates human regret
Morning Dew
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Exceptionally liquidy and thoroughly blistering, truly in the neon gauze of post-apocalyptic false memory, heartbreaks of the past. Keith's spectral touches. mammoth shredding and skyward, skull-rattling emotion. Major version of dew