headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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BeggarsTomb48

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Submissions

7
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

I'm uncle sam, how do you do? Off and running tonight at Winterland, the premiere of US Blues.
5
Space
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Whopping late '77 version of this, the Dead intuitively coasting the waves of the atmosphere's collective imagination.
3
Around and Around
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

You know the guys are feelin' hot when they play this and here's a slow, down 'n' dirty groovy Winter 73 read of it
1
Pretty Peggy O
March 31, 1989
Greensboro Coliseum

Straight-ahead gorgeous fun, clear, youthfully energizing and endearing version of this
1
Sugaree
March 31, 1989
Greensboro Coliseum

Feel good version with tasty brent

Comments

Easy Wind
Aug. 30, 1970
KQED Studios

awesome Pigpen song. hot Bobby solo as well.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 16, 1974
Iowa State Fairgrounds

vicious, firey wall of sound China rider. Jerry spits out the words like sour food. Wolf is screaming. The transitional jam is quite long and exploratory, and seems to be perhaps drawing some influence from the Meters or other R&B rhythm sections of the day. Keith hits the rhodes and billy lets it all hang out. Pocket shit. there's an absolutely killing "I've been working on the railroad" quote in jerry's solo during the Feeling groovy jam.
The Other One
Nov. 20, 1973
Denver Coliseum

check the year and the length and you already know this is gonna be crazy. It's an improvisational wonderland where the dead weave in and out of the main TOO rhythm several times, to the point where I forgot what song it was more than once. experiments with meter and tonality ensue. A head-spinning 9 minutes go by before we even get the first verse, and after that, in a dark star-like fashion we are plunged straight into some sort of lysergic hell hole. Doesn't quite pack the punch of a 6/18/74 or 5/2/70 but this version has things that those don't. bumblebees spiralling around the carcass of a desert coyote. look out for a subtle chill MLB at the end.
Truckin'
Nov. 20, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Killer jazzy dead -- Bill and Phil go totally free at the end. The truckin' itself is in top form, Keith is gunslinging
Big River
June 18, 1976
Capitol Theatre

hot big river. They really get that country rock twangy flavor on it. give it a listen!