headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

+785


Submissions

1
Turn On Your Love Light
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

This is The Dead at peak performance level. Cataclysmic version. Everyone is ON. Explorative and not a beat missed. Easily top 5 of 69.
2
Dire Wolf
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Nice early electric version. Always preferred this key for Dire Wolf compared to when they changed it in the later years. Just right. Nice version.
1
Next Time You See Me
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Takes you right to Chicago. Jerry’s playing emulates the blues greats. Hard rocking version that reminds me of a Junior Wells cut. Highly recommend.
1
High Time
Oct. 31, 1969
San Jose state university

Haunting organ playing. Crystalline and psychedelic early version that feels very spacey. Great vocal delivery.
1
Me and My Uncle
May 25, 1974
Campus Stadium, UCSB

Very nice solo from Jerry. Phil is all over this as well, some great melodic bass playing that compliments the song very well.
show more submissions

Comments

Morning Dew
Oct. 12, 1968
Avalon Ballroom

Heads, need some help with this one. Just got Captain Tapes Choice Volume 2, if anyone can provide more info on this Morning Dew, that would truly rock. I really tried looking into seeing what show this version comes from and it's definitely not from this particular night. Awesome version though I am a real sucker for these early cataclysmic versions, they erupt like volcanos. Also lovely falsetto from Jerry with some amazing blistering psychedelic playing from the whole band.
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 22, 1973
Assembly Hall, University of Illinois

Excellent description Nog, thank you for the recommendation I’m currently get shredded to pieces from Garcia’s relentless, and energized playing. Coltranish is definitely the word to describe it. Doesn’t loose energy for a second and has this urgency that’s not in many Playin’s. Phil is absolutely insane on this, the way he dances on the bass, weaving intricate webs of music for the rest of the band to join in and dance with him. Keith is one with the music on this. This is a very spontaneous and aggressive conversation between the band which ends up leading to some mighty, and ethereal moments. The intensity, so consistent. Thanks again to Nog for the recommendation.
The Other One
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

BeggarsTomb put it wonderfully. A truly wonderful exploratory mission that finds the band exploring deep archaic realms. Spellbinding wouldn’t even begin to describe it, an extraterrestrial performance that haunts the listener. The band plays the music how a puppet master would control a marionette. The dread and macabre comes into full display as the band really dive deep into anti matter territory, the existential nothingness leads to a mighty and powerful epiphany of realizing you are in fact, The Eyes of The World. Eternity. Your thoughts form your own reality. This is a very surprising The Other One and 76 is quickly becoming one of my favorite years.
Playin' In The Band
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Void music. A transcendent voyage into new cosmic territories. Jerry is a man possessed and the video to go a long makes it all the better. 8:47 has an insanely beautiful buildup that leads the band into a spiraling staircase of pure musical expression.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 17, 1972
Baltimore Civic Center

To this day, my favorite version of Friend of The Devil. You can really hear how *on* the band is. Billy and Phil really push the song forward and onwards while Bobby adds some absolutely divine rhythmic motifs all throughout. Perfectly encapsulates the original ethos of the song and electrifies it, taking it to a whole other level. Will play this over, and over again. Happy anniversary to this absolutely transcendent and transformative show.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)