headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24544


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.

Comments

The Music Never Stopped
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

This was indeed Donna's greatest tune, and this version is as good an example of what she could bring to this tune as any that exists.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

Rock on, Dannydread...glad we're all enjoying the ride ;-)
Feelin' Groovy Jam
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

Simply stunning portion of music that's only a little bit of Feelin Groovy but a whole lot of awesome coming out of the NFBM section. One of those just exactly perfect bridges of music that occurs spontaneously and could be done by no one but The Grateful Dead. Way under the radar stuff here that needs more ears.
Eyes Of The World
Nov. 17, 1973
Pauley Pavilion - University of California

Light and airy with a free flowing liquid jazz line throughout, but the bonus, as mentioned, of a really tight outro section. I'm more impressed with this section of the show, with this Eyes as the highlight, than I am with the more popular UJB>Playin section.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

I have to agree with Summerraven that while the beginning segments of this version are lovely and flowing and as pretty as any the band has ever performed the outro material really drags and it's understandable, given that this song is barely on its feet live at this point. I'm OK with it being a top 15-20 version but not in the top 10 for that reason.