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.

Comments

He's Gone
Aug. 12, 1972
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Can't help but to think that they were singing to Pigpen in this version. Has a very somber tone to it that really seems like a song about mourning an old friend rather than someone who split with their money. Phil with the bass in his voice really makes it for me too! This feels very definitive, a lot of the Europe 72 mojo is still going strong,
Stella Blue
Sept. 24, 1976
William and Mary College Hall

The perfect remedy for a blistering start to the second set. They never stop, but they allow themselves to breathe here, to take a minute to bask in the moment. What a show.
The Music Never Stopped
Sept. 24, 1976
William and Mary College Hall

The music never stopped. What a segue out of Franklins, a little sloppy but man is this fun. Imagine being in the audience, just when you think they're done, they just keep at it. You can tell the band is tired but they keep going strong. You got to admire the effort here. Plowing through a fast and furious Help>Slip>Frank and then despite how tired they are, they keep the music going, for music's sake The Dead were truly something special. Keith is also mighty on this. Can you tell that I like Keith?
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 24, 1976
William and Mary College Hall

Oh man. Angels envelope me as they take me away to a far off land. A journey through the land beyond. Slipknot is some true wizardry. Jerry does some wonderful riffing right before the drums break in. Coming out of the drums, we are dancin' in the slipknot as we can hear Jerry taking the band through a different place leading to this incredible pocket of space and jazzy and elegant jamming. Right before landing into Franklin's, the band play those famous diminished lines at the speed of light before falling into the main theme. Just wow. Franklins sounds like it could be a 77 version, definitely the synthesis of what's to come. A class performance with some incredible interplay between Jerry and Keith. Another times forgotten space.
Truckin'
Dec. 15, 1972
Long Beach Arena

This is by far one of my favorite Truckin's of all time. The jam after is really what makes it for me but this Truckin' is nothing to scoff at. 72 is unique for these Truckin's that have this evil sounding wah effect that Keith does before the jams that's so utterly unique to this era. The only other version with a Truckin' inverted Dark Star to my knowledge is 3/24/73 which is a monster all on its own. This, 4/16/72, 10/2/72, 3/24/72, and 8/5/74 has some of the best Truckin' jams of all time. I suggest all of these. What a time to be alive.