headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Submissions

3
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Oct. 14, 1976
Shrine Auditorium

The last halfstep of '76. After Rio Grandeo everyone including the crowd gets into it. The source is a B+ AUD.
1
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Topical
3
Ship of Fools
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Timely
1
Franklin's Tower
May 4, 1980
Baltimore Civic Center

Different types of solos at each turn: straightaway, Listen-to-the-music-play, spacey, bluegrassy
2
Brown Eyed Women
May 4, 1980
Baltimore Civic Center

This one is fiery, especially the solo, in the vein of 8/24/80, including a hint of a Delilah Jones growl.
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Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

I’m at a loss here as to why this has languished with 7 votes for the last couple of years. I know that there are purists who won’t consider a China Rider outside of 72-74, but if you get around then check this one out. The second break in China Cat I deserves to be played loud, the transition is tight, clear and peaks well and the Rider solos are smoked. I think this pair is easily better than more than half of the versions that currently have more votes.
Franklin's Tower
Dec. 27, 1978
Golden Hall, Community Concourse

The solo after listen to the music play is absolutely crunched. The rest of the rendition is solid, but the listen to the music play break is a top 10 Franklin's solo, albeit a short one. It's hammered - listen to it loud.
Franklin's Tower
June 4, 1977
The Forum

Really a nice grateful dead moment on the transition. I hate to get down on an AUD, but I have wanted to love this show for years and I would still love to hear a cleaner copy. The setlist, especially given the date, is stellar, even if most of the longer form songs get shorter solo work generally, just as this Franklin's does. But yes, the transition actually made me shout out loud while I was on a run today.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 2, 1978
Giants Stadium

This one took a while to make it to my top 5, but I'm there now. He goes 5 times around in the scarlet solo, with awesome fluent playing, the transition is crushed and the fire is great. Sound quality and tone are important determinants too. A blemish here or there, but classic, huge show, seminal moment before Egypt, the whole nine yards.
Dark Star
June 17, 1991
Giants Stadium

I'm surprised this hadn't been posted yet. The teases are unique and while this isn't some '69 DS, it's cool in its own right.
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