headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catalonia

neshaminy

+2082


Submissions

3
Deal
Oct. 10, 1981
Stadt Halle

Incendiary second solo becomes delicate and beautiful before they build the final refrain.
9
Deal
Oct. 4, 1981
Rainbow Theater

You can't compare 70s Deals w/ late 1980 onward. There's a four minute shredded 2nd solo on this one that wasn't a part of Deal in its 1st decade.
3
Deal
Sept. 25, 1980
Warfield Theater

This is the first one with the second solo, revamped for the 15th anniversary.
7
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Jan. 8, 1979
Madison Square Garden

Pre rio grandeo is good, but there are two peaks post rio grandeo, one built off the other and the latter crashes into Franklin's Tower.
2
Stella Blue
May 13, 1981
Civic Center

A fluttery and lyrical solo after the bridge and then an autobiography of an outro. There is a video on YouTube.
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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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