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

Dark Star
Oct. 18, 1974
Winterland Arena

Maybe it's the superior clarity of sound from the movie soundtrack, but more likely it's just the ethereal jazz presentation that permeates this Dark Star from beginning to end that has vaulted it into my Top 3 all time grouping. There isn't any Tighten Up or MLB jam here but don't let that deter you. They explore some unique improv avenues and just glide along seamlessly in the process. Garcia sings gorgeously here too. Flawless version. Depending on my mood, sometimes best of the best.
Loser
March 24, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Neck and neck forever with Ventura '84 as best ever, this one on repeated listening always wins by a nose. The solo Garcia nails here is both technically amazing and an emotional tsunami, and as stated by Mdempste the crowd and band know it feed the energy right back. Garcia's vocals here are very much like Ventura in that smokey, gravely hard blues vein but it doesn't stop him from belting out the lyrics. Btw, to Storyteller, if you ever find that version that's your favorite, please let me know, because I've yet to find any that matches this or Ventura but I love this song and am very curious to hear any that merits the highest praise.
Bird Song
Dec. 12, 1972
Winterland Arena

^^^^ Love that "mini Dark Star" description. Totally agree, especially when it comes to the '72-'73 versions. This is worthy of upvote with so many others. For the most Dark-Star-ish version ever check out 6/22/73.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

This is winner on every level and the Miller source as noted is just killer, with lots of clarity and punch. You can almost sense an approach to the MLB jam, as it's late '72 and they'd start incorporating that bridge in '73. But even with its absence there's a good bit of Garcia exploring different peaks and valleys before transitioning into Rider. Very nice indeed.
Uncle John's Band
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

jbrucer is right, This sounds so much better via archive sources. Jerry's guitar really comes alive and the jamming here is surprisingly raucous for a '72 version. Just amazing. Hot middle jam & outro as well. Great rendition
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