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

The Other One
Aug. 2, 1969
Family Dog at the Great Highway

What did the good people of the Family Dog do to wreak such an outpouring of fury? Ferocious from all sides. Through the byzantine curves, Garcia maintains his perch high above the cloud cover.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 19, 1972
Fox Theatre

Deliberate but swinging. Fall 72 for C>R is a peak - super patient as if they're savoring playing it. Godchaux and Lesh team up perfectly. And the dynamics ebb & flow organically. A very under-appreciated version. More people need to hear this one. It's superb.
Caution
Aug. 23, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Heavy shit. Pigpen’s underrated organ playing is a big part of the mammoth force of this song. Searing psychedelic express train of overlapping explosive gestures & two-ton riffage.
Wharf Rat
Oct. 10, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Effortless, detailed, long transition from Dancin' sets this up, but this is a GD and this a Wharf Rat that occurs when they release the Spirit of . . . (it's 1:27 am and I just got back into town from the Holidays). K-Wality stuff!
Dancin' in the Streets
Oct. 10, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Sharp & action-packed! It's hard to imagine this taking place in a huge concrete multi-sport stadium, but here it is. Such precision and intimacy between players. Paired up with The Who (maybe the greatest of all time - well, it's close), no less. Then Garcia takes it all somewhere else altogether with some clean aluminum goodness.
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