headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


Submissions

4
The Other One
Feb. 28, 1970
Family Dog at the Great Highway

Oversight Alert! Conversational then a violent row ensues. A total taste treat. 1970.
7
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
March 21, 1985
Hampton Coliseum

Voice shot, Garcia hums through his spidery 13 lb. guitar. With a lovely China Cat peak @4:30.
13
Tennessee Jed
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena

(a) Garcia with aluminum pipe, (b) Purdie Shuffle '77 Pace, (c) Perfect Dynamic Control
7
Sugaree
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

As a queen sits down, knowing that a chair will be there,/ Or a general raises his hand and is given the field-glasses
3
Big River
Dec. 4, 1973
Cincinnati Gardens

Dictionary entry: 1973 Big River - effortless & downstream. Exhibit A.

Comments

Tennessee Jed
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Snaps like a Twix! Much like one of my favorites 10/26/71, this Jed pulsates, squirms, and whirls like a dervish. Super enthusiasm for a hot new song. Garcia's Strat is particularly strident and bratty. And high speed!
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Oct. 9, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Confident, brash, authoritative. A classic version (with a killer S&D tucked inside as a special treat). Great show.
Tennessee Jed
Aug. 2, 1976
Colt Park

I actually like the plodding '76 TJs. Moreover, I love that Garcia's guitar breaks often sound like the town drunk careening down Main Street. This one has some real life, too, b/c the crowd is waaaay into it. Love that.
Jack Straw
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

How did I just start focusing on this one? Perfectly paced, clean as a fucking bean, spacey, Garcia-crazy - it's all in place. Everyone lends just the right touch.
Estimated Prophet
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

Restaurant Quality. One of the ultimate Estimateds in my mind - perfect representation of this song (should probably be the version on Terrapin), but way more than that. Right up there w/5/19 for me. Pick 'em. Both Garcia-led codas are exemplars in my world.