headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3568


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

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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