headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


Submissions

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.
4
Ship of Fools
Oct. 18, 1978
Winterland Arena

An especially sharp and spirited specimen - expressive vocals, the rhythm section is precise, and Garcia's guitar break is masterful. A still life.
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Comments

Playin' In The Band
April 29, 1972
Musikhalle

One of my favorite Playins - and I still love that it's an opener. What an orientation! Did they at least have a Powerpoint deck running in the background? Contact initiated!
Loser
April 29, 1972
Musikhalle

An overlooked show and an easy-to-overlook Loser. Which would be an unforced error. Weir and Lesh sorta star.
St. Stephen
Jan. 17, 1969
Civic Auditorium

Rough + ready version, but you can clearly hear Hart's severe limitations (as a drummer, not a percussionist). He just doesn't have the rhythm on snare or kick. And I'm not a drummer! Make no mistake, this version is worthy of your time (as is the whole show), but the Love of the Single Drummer perhaps starts here for me. Then again, when they kick it, they whomp the shit out of it,
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Nov. 15, 1972
Oklahoma City Music Hall

Pretty hard to go wrong with a China>Rider from this time. Gets off to a slowish start - Garcia's hi E is out of tune. Perhaps more. And it seems to throw him just a pinch. Of course he fixes by/in the second guitar break. A snap! Weir and Lesh push things about as hard & swingin' as possible throughout. When Garcia takes the Captain's Chair, his playing is pastoral and gorgeous. In charge.
Bird Song
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium

The new release reveals even more dynamic detail in this conversational Bird Song than I heard before (when I voted for this version). Lovely. Hand-made.
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