headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

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Submissions

4
Tennessee Jed
Nov. 23, 1973
County Coliseum

If possible, a very contemplative TJ. Everyone's in apex '73 form, esp. Godchaux who's mixed fairly high to good effect.
2
St. Stephen
Nov. 5, 1970
Capitol Theater

Of the heavenly 1970 Capitol Theater St. Stephens. Just a beautiful union between audience and group. Killer Stephen! CRUNCH!
4
Here Comes Sunshine
Sept. 26, 1973
War Memorial

Show opener - the perseverence is what really sells me on this one. A struggle, but a worthy one b/c the spoils are lush. Sneaky great.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

Crazy overlooked: A noble, splendiferous C>R in full Europe 72-ness. Patient, exploratory, charming. Driving a distance? Pack this.
12
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.
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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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