headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

+785


Submissions

1
Ship of Fools
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

1974 and Ship of Fools go together like peanut butter and jelly. Full of emotion. They're really giving their all in this.
1
Big River
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Like the breaking of a dam, this just flows at a truly ferocious pace. Jerry is relentless in his playing, the second solo will knock your socks off.
1
It Must Have Been The Roses
May 12, 1974
University of Nevada

Any '74 version of this tune is a treat. Incredibly lovely with great Keith lines. Billy sways.
1
Jack Straw
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Definitive for its time. The soundcheck gave us a preview, here's the full thing. Solid version.
1
Mexicali Blues
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Just a damn near perfect performance. Shocked not to see this one submitted. One of MANY highlights from this show.
show more submissions

Comments

Bird Song
Sept. 9, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

What a spiraling staircase of a bird song. Starts off as a typical 72 version would, and then BAM, you’re hit with some incredibly intricate and quite whimsical interplay. Jerry plays some wonderfully inventive lines all throughout this. A very special version.
The Music Never Stopped
Dec. 28, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

Awesome eagle screech in the beginning. Just missing Donna.
Dark Star
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

Phil in particular is very interesting this show. It’s the energy, the energy he puts into each and every note is quite funny. It’s like he realized with each pluck each time his fingers graze over his strings, he realizes the energy that he puts out people can feed off of that. Instead of exploring musical themes, he’s exploring energy. Listen closely to him because it’s not super obvious at first but his playing here is stupendously interesting, not leading but influences. Lovely Keith being ripples in the water after Jerry casts a stone. Jerry also completely dances with melody with this one. Very cool Dark Star.
Dark Star
Aug. 27, 1972
Old Renaissance Faire Grounds

Starts as a Salvador Dali painting and then quickly dissolves into Jackson Pollock post the first verse. Whichever you prefer, is up to you, some may even enjoy both. I’m one of those people. All hype aside, this is a great Dark Star who’s classic status is deserved, but in the grand scheme of things, is merely a bench mark in the progress of psychedelic, spiritual, and space exploration. I don’t listen to this often, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Cryptical Envelopment
Sept. 2, 1968
Betty Nelson's Organic Raspberry Farm

Primal Dead. Like dinosaurs on a hunt, traversing lush and wild landscapes. Furious.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)