headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

Listening to this one again and some things: it really might be best ever; if not it's Top 5 all time and the six votes it has now makes a mockery of what we're supposed to be doing here; there's no doubt in my mind this kicks Barton to the curb.
Jack A Roe
March 27, 1994
Nassau Coliseum

I don't normally care for this tune post 1977, really preferring the old style Mark Knopfler-ish slow cadence, slinky approach so perfectly captured by 5/17/77 on the "Phil Zone" release, but this fast-picking version with Jerry doing the acoustic/electric thing and nailing all the lyrics deserves the upvote. This whole show as cgarces has pointed out is chock full of surprisingly grand renditions especially given the year. The Dew from this show gets all the accolades but there's a lot more to like here, and this Roe is one of the gems.
Big River
Sept. 11, 1982
West Palm Beach Auditorium

Fully agree, about this version and this show overall. One of the top five in 1982. Check out the Scarlet>Fire after you're done grooving you this BR.
Wharf Rat
July 18, 1976
Orpheum Theater

Yes! The intro to this is other-worldly and melancholy and beautiful. This song may have been perfected in '77 but the origins of that perfection are found in '76. This is spectacular,
Me and Bobby McGee
April 2, 1973
Boston Garden

This is my favorite version. So gentle and honest, flowing beautifully out of space from HCS
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