headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


Submissions

10
Loser
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Heavens! It took a Dave's Picks to get this on the board! Soft, seductive, dark, and pretty much perfectly realized. Guitar break: shit yeah.
3
Estimated Prophet
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

Bold, sharp, confident version with plenty of 1977 squoosh. This version has that great '77 restraint with Garcia speaking in MuTron tongues.
6
Brown Eyed Women
Oct. 29, 1973
Kiel Auditorium

Attention. To. Detail. - ESP Weir. Not the world's greatest recording, but the band is bubbly & effortless.
3
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
July 31, 1971
Yale Bowl, Yale University

Listened to this on a big PA outside over the summer and it's so alive, athletic, and filled with beautiful instrumental cross-talk. Improv!
3
Sugaree
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Another example of how Sugaree thrived in 6/76: Garcia's sweet, mellow, bubbly silver thread guitar and group dynamics both jaunty & subtle. Primo.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 24, 1978
Horton Field House - Illinois State University

Love this version - its got lots of highlights, but is the suggestion that the Scarlet>Fire is better in April 78 than May 77 just more anti-May 77 weird backlash? The entire band is tighter, more focused, less flubby, and just plain sounds better in May 77. Here, the drums are already, at times, taking a turn for sneakerville. The cohesion and engine-room propulsion of the May 77 rhythm section has disintegrated noticeably by this point already. And of course Weir's slide guitar (although this is one of the better fits I can remember hearing). Once Garcia gets up to speed @8.35 of Scarlet, he's pretty stunning.
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 10, 1976
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Crispy and celestial. Garcia takes it to the house at the end. No question.
Wharf Rat
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

At this stage, they're so refined they don't really have to think. Auto-pilot in the best way. No thinking just let it happen. This was one of those periods for the group. One of Garcia's best Whart Rat vocals. The sleeve don't get much more topper than this.
Big River
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Garcia comes out snappy! I picture Callan saying this: Don't usually prefer the 2-drummer version of this song, but 7 minutes well spent.
High Time
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Beautiful version. Like Candyman, I could have used more versions of this flower in the May77 Delivery System.
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