headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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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.

Comments

Dark Star
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

This is a freaking awesome Dark Star. Phil is the star of the show for me on this one. I love the Clementine riff in B minor that he'll throw around every once and a while. His bass solo post space is also something to take note of. The star of this show is that early Weather Report Suite Prelude that somehow fits perfectly in this jam and if that jam were to go further, would be an all timer of a WRS. Just a great, jammed out Dark Star.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 28, 1976
Onondaga County War Memorial

Jam so good I made it my name on this site. All jokes aside the Eyes itself is genuinely well played and I love the speed. The way the song dissolved into the Tango still sends chills down my spine. Dark and Macabre with shades of the far east. Carrion once again you’re spot on with you’re reviews. Not many people would make that connection to Ethiopiques and it makes me happy knowing another head hears these things as well. Cheers to you and cheers to this Eyes jam.
Shakedown Street
March 24, 1981
Rainbow Theater

My go to version for a while. Easy to get lost in the funk on this one. Highly recommend!
Dark Star
Dec. 18, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

Bubbling is certainly the word. The beginning is honestly quite peaceful and sharp. I love the mini MLB jam that danced around the Dark Star theme for only a short time. After the verse we go into electrical Nubian landscapes. This makes my head feel like a balloon that’s just waiting to pop at any moment(in a good way of course). There are little warps of electricity that express a feeling of peaking through and seeing too much. Especially here it seemed like the band ventured far and far and far and had lost a piece of themselves in the process. To express such primal emotions through electronic sound waves conjures feelings of existential dread. Electrical warps envelope the mind in a frenzy as it’s up to Billy to pull us out of that electric waking nightmare. The day is saved, a jump back into reality. Time to boogie down to Eyes of the World. WHAT a ride. Who knows if the band ever recovered after those 2 nights in Florida.
Weather Report Suite
Dec. 18, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

Such vigor from Bobby on this one. If there was ever a definitive version for me besides gems such as 6/18/74 and 6/28/74, this would be it. Love Phil introducing the song and from there there’s such focus and power within this performance. Bobby’s confidence is infectious and the whole band is just ripping. A celestial invitation that guides you towards Dark Star. I like how Jerry starts Dark Star as well because it just seems like he’s ready to jump into space time. An all timer performance.