headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


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.

Comments

He's Gone
Sept. 3, 1972
Folsom Field, University of Colorado

He's Gone in peak condition, Best In Class. The guitar break is just nasty! Jells and never stops jelling. A classic.
Estimated Prophet
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

The effort to bring down May 1977 is just bizarre to me. Especially this song. And Bruce added depth to no song. True, though, Bobby went over the top in subsequent years. And it's fun! But what a silly comparison.
Dancin' in the Streets
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

Full throat! The group is liquid. Different from Cornell. Not better/worse, but deserving of its own piece of American History. Cleaner than Cornell. Not the personality of the Cornell jam/breakdown. Just different.
Weather Report Suite
June 23, 1974
Jai-Alai Fronton

They squeeze every last drop out of this WR. Lesh is out of his mind. He bounces the entire group on his shoulders during the first half. Kreutzmann swaggers underneath the Let It Grow and secretly moves it forward. Fucking smooth.
Terrapin Station
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Agreed, but it gets deserved votes for being the first and a spirited go at a pretty challenging piece of music. It isn't like anything else they did, so there's a thrill in listening to them take the plunge. That said, Spring of 77 had numerous better versions. Doesn't mean it doesn't deserve an up vote - just that others do as well.