headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

1
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 13, 1969
Swing Auditorium

A cozy little delight - hand percussion, contemplation, great stereo drums, and some rip roaring riffage. Comes in under the radar, but worth a visit.
12
Sugaree
June 18, 1976
Capitol Theatre

As much as I love May 77 Sugarees, Spring 76 is where it's at for me. Subtlety, separation, and Garcia's whispery, silver-dipped guitar breaks.
6
Candyman
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

1978: Prime weather for Candyman. This performance, like many from then, highlights the bleak world of the narrator. Garcia's break: spidery.
4
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 29, 1971
Allen Theatre

Bubbly, bratty storyboard version. Character & twang for miles. I'd pay to see this band. Two for a tenner? Four please.
9
Terrapin Station
April 27, 1977
Capitol Theatre

This is a very sweet Terrapin. Everyone's fired up to play it. All you need to do is watch the vid to see the pure joy this brings Garcia. Memorable.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
Nov. 5, 1979
The Spectrum

Perfect ambiance - throughout much of this Eyes, it's almost like the group is barely playing. Not sure I can put this up in the '73/'74 stratosphere, but it brings a charm all its own. Almost not right to compare, but I just did it, so that's water under the bridge. Delicate, thoughtful, and patient. A reminder of a mysterious and underrated year in Dead lore. Very much worth the investment of time.
Mission in the Rain
June 18, 1976
Capitol Theatre

One listen of this should put to rest any question of which band - GD or JGB - handled this gem better. As good as some Garcia Band versions of this are (and some are truly wonderful), this demonstrates a level of artistry and give/take unimaginable elsewhere.
Candyman
July 18, 1976
Orpheum Theater

Not sure how anything from this show has slipped through the cracks. But yeah - a delicate, lush Candyman with beautiful Garcia handiwork. Nice choice!
Uncle John's Band
Dec. 19, 1969
Fillmore Auditorium

Sure, it's a little tentative early on, but such a beautiful entrance by Garcia and then when the sweet vocals come in, it's a really intimate version. So tentative becomes intimate. Then it works out for everyone. It's like the story of evolution, but less math.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Aug. 23, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

Quartet-styled. This one swings from Go. Lesh's bass is medicinal - can't make a bass guitar sound better than that. Just can't. And the playing is socks/underpants drawer. The crowd is semi-stunned @2:49 - delayed mania a second or two after the break. Like, OH FUCK. The transition surges with electricity - puts many better known transitions to shame, sort of. Kreutzmann is in high swang. 9.3 Best Reissue.
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