headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

10
Jack Straw
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium

Relaxed and joyous space-age electric guitar semi-ballad.
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.
3
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.
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Comments

Here Comes Sunshine
March 22, 1973
Utica Memorial Auditorium

You can almost hear Garcia's Strat go Weeeee!!!! at about 3:40. No one lets up in this version - early, but wholly formed magic. Kreutzmann here is, as he so often is, the secret flavorator. And a lovely recording.
Not Fade Away
Oct. 9, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Garcia laying out the terms in aluminum-necked sweetness - '76 NFAs are a sneaky fave. The two drums are still pushing things and Garcia's working on a dissertation. Nice interstitial intertwining between Weir-Garcia-Godchaux. Keeps moving forward with creeping inevitability. As it should be.
Dark Star
April 22, 1969
The Ark

I'm reading an article about Charlton Athletic and this is on in the room. It weaves the perfect spell around a tale of somewhat hapless mid-table mediocrity and eventually pulls me away from the article. Everything from the April 69 Ark shows is top sleeve. Everyone knows it. It's not a secret. And yet everyone tiptoes around going "what is one to do?" What I do is this: I hereby proclaim today September 2nd as National April 22nd Day!
Jack Straw
Oct. 19, 1971
Northrop Auditorium, U. of Minn.

Godchaux leaves a dent right out of the bat chute. Although this song changed some over the years, it lacked nothing even at the very start. And it was waiting for Godchaux.
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 31, 1971
Winterland Arena

Quickly becoming a favorite - so much confident energy - they know they're onto their next phase, but they're still getting there. A little jumpy and jittery, but it's part of the narrative. Still plenty smooth.
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