headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.
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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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