headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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bzfgt

the same as the

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Submissions

1
Not Fade Away
May 10, 1980
Hartford Civic Center

Rather surprising this hasn't been submitted, this show seeks a bit underrated in general. Garcia gets majorly vicious here.
4
Aiko Aiko
July 29, 1988
Laguna Seca Recreation Area

Stupendous Garcia
1
Cassidy
April 10, 1978
Fox Theatre

Howling Jerome
1
Big Railroad Blues
April 19, 1986
Berkeley Community Theater

Theyind of all over the place
1
Cassidy
April 19, 1986
Berkeley Community Theater

This gets kind of woolly, maybe a little chaotic but worth a listing

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

It's a cliche to say "they never play a song the same way twice," but this is vastly different from the previous outing (8/5). While the middle jam often has a headlong feel, here Garcia takes them into it with a lightly chopping emphasis on the backbeat, and the playing is delicate and finely wrought. Weir is a key player on the transition from his section to FG, at which point Lesh probably becomes the main man. One of the best of the year, without a doubt.
Stella Blue
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

I think this is the best pre-hiatus version. And it's huge that Jerry remembers all the words. See my comment on Morning Dew for why this is the best show of the year.
Dark Star
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

Unless 2/24 or 5/14 are the best of the year....for a year with so few Dark Stars, they did some good ones. But this has a good case to make for itself. See Morning Dew comments for a brief case as to why this is the best show of the year.
Not Fade Away
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

This is clearly the best one ever. See my comments on Morning Dew for a brief case for why this is the best show of the year. This smokes every 1977 version, by the way.
Morning Dew
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

Look, objectively this is probably the best show of the year. Tally up the top drawer versions, and then find a show with as many. Dark Star is maybe best of year. Morning Dew here I think is best pre-hiatus, although of course that's arguable. Stella Blue I think is best pre-hiatus. WRS is as good as any, as is the remarkable China>Rider. 1/2 Step arguably best pre-hiatus. And Not Fade Away is clearly the best one ever. Even the best Me and My Uncle ever. Listen to Garcia throughout, and on his solo, and pay obeisance. I probably could go on, if I looked at the set list.