headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


Submissions

4
Tennessee Jed
Nov. 23, 1973
County Coliseum

If possible, a very contemplative TJ. Everyone's in apex '73 form, esp. Godchaux who's mixed fairly high to good effect.
2
St. Stephen
Nov. 5, 1970
Capitol Theater

Of the heavenly 1970 Capitol Theater St. Stephens. Just a beautiful union between audience and group. Killer Stephen! CRUNCH!
4
Here Comes Sunshine
Sept. 26, 1973
War Memorial

Show opener - the perseverence is what really sells me on this one. A struggle, but a worthy one b/c the spoils are lush. Sneaky great.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

Crazy overlooked: A noble, splendiferous C>R in full Europe 72-ness. Patient, exploratory, charming. Driving a distance? Pack this.
12
Bird Song
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

An intimate very early Bird Song - Quartet-styled, which serves this song really well. Also: you can hear the thinking, especially between guitars.
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Comments

Tennessee Jed
Oct. 9, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

'76 Tennessee Jed. Elite shit.
Jack Straw
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

This version has its positives, but the drums are sloppy and that ruins any momentum (important in this song). Yep - D & Co. have plenty of other issues. I saw them once and hated it. Boring and I loathe John Mayer's putrid voice. Good guitar player, but not all THAT good. I don't begrudge them for doing it, but I find D & Co. annoying and vapid. Also, SLOOOOWWWWW. Yuck. + And credit to the New Yorker for the description "two old sneakers in a dryer" - although that characterization probably precedes the NYer article.
Playin' In The Band
March 28, 1972
Academy of Music

How did this one wind up the forgotten sister from these shows? This a flying beast! Garcia loses his mind at least three times.
Not Fade Away
Nov. 8, 1970
Capitol Theater

And toward the end of this furious NFA, a guitar orchestra ship descends softly and leads to some truly beautiful and unique way-outs. The toppest of drawers.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
Nov. 8, 1970
Capitol Theater

Emerges from a devastating NFA, and soothes anyone concerned that we were always going to be in Abstractland. Tribal drum holdover from NFA adds a girthy edge. Then the group just settles in.
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