headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.
11
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
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Comments

Bird Song
Nov. 22, 1972
Austin Municipal Auditorium

^^^^So true about this year/month. I think November '72 is like May '77. Blind-throw a dart, you'll hit a great show. But yeah, I'd like there to be more ears on this version.
Bird Song
Nov. 22, 1972
Austin Municipal Auditorium

I'd vote for this a thousand more times if I could. Just listened again today more convinced than ever that even for 1972 this is one of the pure true best they ever performed. Every section has a jam with sense, color, purpose, power and nuance and the vocals are ultra silky and sweet. I realize there's a gaggle of great Birdsongs from this year--even this very month--but having this pearl at 3 measly votes is a travesty.
Me and My Uncle
March 18, 1967
Winterland Arena

Totally fascinating not just for Bob's early, odd, reading and phrasing....not bad, just so different....but the real treat here is Garcia's insanely liquid, super fast, picture perfect picking. Unbelievable. Upvoted for his lightning fast draw alone. Every Deadhead needs to hear this if they haven't already.
Let It Grow
July 29, 1974
Capitol Center

Posters who come back to comment on a show they've already submitted just seem so desperate, you know? It's really kind of embarrassing. (Awkward pause) But seriously, folks. Come on. I wouldn't be shilling for this so bad if I didn't truly believe in its inherent awesomeness. Grab yer headphones, take 15 minutes, and tell me this isn't Jerry Jazz Heaven.
Bird Song
Feb. 26, 1981
Uptown Theater

Upping this for the instrumental magnificence of the jam section, which is SO GOOD, majestic, jazzy, you name it, that it compensates completely for Jerry's truly shitty vocals. There are some versions in the 80s where he can barely croak out "bird within her sang" and it's painful to hear especially with so many beautifully sung versions from '72-'73 to hear. But the jamming here may be the best of 1981 and this version should be heard by more ears for that reason alone.
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