headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

yeller dawg

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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.
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Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 26, 1974
Providence Civic Center

A dream, Father Time sprinkles some sand into this version, and as you fall asleep you’ll find yourself in a familiar yet uncanny dreamworld. Inverted directions, left is right, right is left, up is down. You dance among the clouds in this hazy and delicate dreamscape that you never want to leave. Colorful and vibrant, all colors of the rainbow envelope you as you feel right at home, you don’t want to leave, but you know this won’t last forever. A dream translated to sound, this will forever be such an endearing performance to me. I prefer my China>Riders with some muscle, but this will never fail to move me. Just beautiful.
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 16, 1974
Winterland Arena

Kaleidoscopic. A fractal landscape of dreamy acidic jazz that doesn't let up. Tuning in during the GD Movie livestream and reminded of how incredible this version is. Turns you inside out and then back again.
Feelin' Groovy Jam
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

As Joe Brown mentions, this has some real early shades of 73 here, especially the jamming between Phil and Billy, it allows Jerry to test out some new ideas he's working on, like an alchemist taking nothing and fusing it into gold. Chrysopoeia would be the defining word of this entire jam, turning a standard Truckin, and making beautiful alchemical magic for all of us to enjoy. Serene and haunting in all the best ways.
Drums
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Great comment on the Buddy Rich comparison. I love how driven he is coming out of Playin’, he has some serious, serious X factor this show. I also love the count off into Dark Star. Never gets old.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Jerry plays this little precursor to slipknot riff during China Cat that just slays me every time. This is like taking a stroll through a garden in which every flower blooms at your every turn. Keith creates these tranquil and utterly magical lines, especially during the opening of China Cat, and Billy propelled this to another dimension, having some very interesting and driven fills that really change the dynamic on what would be a somewhat average version, and turning it into one of the most celestial of 72. Rider is also full of power and honestly just so driven. A top 10 show for me.
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