headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

13
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.
3
Tennessee Jed
July 21, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theater

Ho-Hum: Another outstanding 1972 TJ. This gem from the sorta overlooked summer tour. Garcia aces the break, natch. Band - unconscious. Whew! at end.
6
Candyman
June 21, 1976
Tower Theater

From Garcia's cheeky intro on, this graceful cabochon throws a faint, warm light. 1976 elegance w/a sick, raw spider web guitar break.
2
Wharf Rat
March 21, 1985
Hampton Coliseum

First show - I didn't know this gem very well & after this criss-crossy version, I was hooked. Dark & murky.
3
Loser
July 21, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theater

Download Series - An intimate, casual living room Loser. Garcia coming out of the guitar break is divine. Not the actor.
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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.
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