headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

13
Brother Esau
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Complete with kickin' cow bell, nice long intro, easily one of the best you'll find.
13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
5
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!

Comments

The Other One
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

I hear you, CK. There are so many fantastic versions of tunes languishing at the bottom of the ladder and this is one of them. I suspect this great rendition suffers from the bias people have against any Other One that's not 30 minutes long and was played after 1974. It's a shame because they played so damn well in 1977 and just because they shortened the length of the tune doesn't mean it should get overlooked. If anything they honed it down and cut out a lot of the excess fat that actually drags down some of those revered 71-72 versions. I don't need a meandering random Phil solo or a bunch of space feedback for a good TOO. Give me Jerry's blazing leads and the hard backing of the double drums and Phil's rolling intros any day. This one from a great and largely overlooked 77 show delivers.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater

^^^^ Let me know when you find those other versions--I'd be curious to check them out!
Shakedown Street
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

^^^^ It does, and you're right. Won't get as much notice as the barn-burner versions but it should.
Shakedown Street
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

So psyched to find versions like this: Mellow but funky, & smooth as melted butter. Gets better every time I hear it. Love Garcia's take-your-time riffs in the jam section leading into a stick-the-landing finish. Brent fills are juicy and Bobby misses not a beat, Phil fans will love some of his chunk-a-dunks as well. Let's get this into double digits at the very least, please. It's more than worthy.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 30, 1973
Boston Music Hall

Masterpiece version I've come to appreciate more listening to the Matrix available instead of DP14. The matrix starts out a bit rough but once yours ears adjust the jamming in the meat of this HCS really comes alive, especially what Jerry does in slowing it down after the little drum break. It's astonishingly patient and beautiful guitar work, stretching the outer contours of the jam cycle and eventually charging headlong into a rhythmic event of seismic full band participation before Jerry sings the final verse. What a spectacular rendition. 2nd only to my ears to 2/23/74.