headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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MuffinMan49

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16
Desolation Row
May 10, 1987
Laguna Seca Raceway

The most impassioned Bobby vocal performance I know

Comments

Alligator
Aug. 23, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Right or wrong, I have one critical point in Alligator that must be spot on or I don't like it. Listen to the critical hook at 1:15 and the 15 seconds that follow. This often gets flubbed a little. However, on this version, Jerry just sticks the landing with big fat tone - goosebumps. The rest of this version is amazing too, but that's the part that gets me the hottest, as Zappa would say. Epic version.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 3, 1972
Olympia Theater

So many great China-Rider's, but nothing touches this "original" version. This was chosen for E72 for a damn goo dreason. every note is picture perfect. I have listened to al the others from the Europe tour, and few even come close. I see 6/26/74 and 8/27/72 are a close second due to their inventiveness (6/26's intro jam) and psychedelic sound (8/27 you can practically feel them beginning to dose as the music just seems to pour out of them). But so many great versions. Jerry sang Chinacat more times than any other song in the catalog.
Shakedown Street
April 6, 1982
The Spectrum

Yup - Jer/Brent interplay rocks on this, and the while song smokes. Was one of my first bootlegs, and it's now a 95 minute tape I've played it so much. Imagine my disappointment when it was released as a Road Trips and the sound was… exactly the same as my hissy, muffled 27 yr old bootleg on Maxell UDXLII. Damn cassette masters. If only they took the same care in '82 that they did in '69 and '72 recording these guys.
Desolation Row
May 10, 1987
Laguna Seca Raceway

How is this not on the list until now? I haven't heard every version of this song, but if you haven't heard Bobby emote this song the way he did 5/10/87, then you are missing out. Earnest quiet vocals one moment, and moments later spitting and screaming his head off: "Was that some kind of joke?!?" with emotion you can feel in your gut. I'm sure Bob Dylan would love this version. And Jerry feeds off Bobby's energy with some great complementary guitar work. Not to be missed..
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
July 1, 1985
Merriweather Post Pavilion

I'm a guitar player so I'm picky on this song. This his the best Scarlet solo of the 80/90's, IMHO. The solo starts crisp and thoughtful - no noodling here! Listen to how he gradually builds the solo's intensity, working his way up the neck patiently, then the final two verses of the solo he's building the energy further with higher energy power chords (Pete Townsend would be proud.) Listen to how he starts the last verse of the solo with a full-on power chord at 6:08 (GOOSEBUMPS) - he means what he's playing - then blows into the "Wind In the Willows" vocal like Willy Wonka busting through the the roof in the glass elevator. Don't miss this.
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