headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


Submissions

9
Bertha
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

Warp speed, precise, slightly unhinged, and driving into the greenish-blue evening.
1
Jack Straw
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Godchaux leads a version that seethes with the excitement of a new song.
2
Brown Eyed Women
May 20, 1973
U.C.

A giggly, slangy Garcia masterpiece (in sweet show sauce). Goes down EZ.
8
Mexicali Blues
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

So good you can practically see the border town.
8
Me and My Uncle
Nov. 17, 1971
Albuquerque Civic Auditorium

Two things: (1) the middle of a searing Other One > MAMU > Other One fest and (2) Garcia loses his mind (or mine) at the end of the solo.
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Comments

Cryptical Envelopment
Aug. 24, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

فوق العاده حماسی! - for a while a soundtrack to a completely different story. I'm not entirely sure what the Arabic stuff says, but something like "super epic" according to Google.
Casey Jones
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Hearing so much high praise, I approached this version perhaps too hopeful. I admire the stick-to-it spirit, but the wheels coming off is really just the wheels coming off. Some inspired moments, but not really feeling this one. Maybe not horrible, but in somewhat depressing disarray.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Garcia sounds like he's really having fun singing this one - he improvises different grace notes and tails (giving that extra swirl). The Big Guitar sounds fucking tiparillo. And that's the Scarlet! A 14-minute version that just screams! Gets pretty far out. The Fire is merely a crushinator.
Terrapin Station
Feb. 4, 1978
Milwaukee Auditorium

Where has this been hiding???? Weir slashing & compressed. Garcia is in great voice and his guitar pierces the hazy air like an arrow (of sound, obviously).
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
April 11, 1972
Newcastle City Hall

I can't really think of many better ones. Into the 3rd verse = sick. The transition is just nasty! And, yeah, Garcia's Charles In-Charge.
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