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

St. Stephen
Feb. 2, 1970
Fox Theatre

Totally mastery. One of my all time favorites - into an mesmerizing jam into Mason's Children. Top o' the sleeve to you.
The Other One
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

I just think this one is unfairly overlooked. A little. Spirals out of control but never really loses control. Ferocious and merciless: Garcia's outta bounz.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
July 7, 1989
JFK Stadium

"the heart of gold ban-DUH" Nice! I was at this show and I don't recall this version being as good as it is. Probably b/c my car was sitting on the shoulder of the Schuylkill River overpass with a flat tire. Yeah - we left it there and walked down to the show.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
July 1, 1985
Merriweather Post Pavilion

How this is surpassed by versions from the 90s still baffles me.
Wharf Rat
April 12, 1971
Civic Arena

In the first half, they're definitely feeling their way through. Not 100% sure where all the changes are. Not a turn-off though. From the bridge on, they build powerful momentum until they kick into high gear in the outro jam. I don't know if Garcia's playing the peanut guitar or what, but it sounds fab. And yeah - evil use of the wah.
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