headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

9
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.
2
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 4, 1982
Kiel Auditorium

Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.
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Comments

Me and My Uncle
May 10, 1969
Rose Palace

Oh heck yeah this is the "Now for something completely different" MAMU you've been looking for...extra twangy guitar from Jerry--a raucous, barroom brawlin' version with so much more swagger than the usual suspect first set fodder we associate (admit it) with this tune in the 1980s. This version brings the tune to life, true to its gritty down n dirty rock-country origins.
Tennessee Jed
June 23, 1990
Autzen Stadium

Two things are necessary for a truly great T-Jed: 1) Jerry needs to nail all the lyrics & sing 'em, with gusto--check, and 2) the wind-up jam has to be epic--double check. You can't ask for much more with this version--the underrated highlight from set 1 of this fine show. Crazy this version isn't into double digits yet.
He's Gone
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Jerry's "smile smile SMIIIIILLLE"!!" line alone should be enough to get this one higher up the ladder but the whole thing is deserving with Garcia completely dialed in to every lyric, some great jamming and a beautiful coda backed up by Brent's perfecto harmonies. Kind of at a loss as to why so many songs from this incredible show are so low on the list. Forget the novelty of the poorly played Revolution encore and check out the "ordinary" songs from this show b/c they're anything but that.
Truckin'
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Another far better than its current ranking & in need of bumpage. Great ensemble vocals on this one...nice jam after the lyrics
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Gobs better than I remembered it being. New box set revealing how great these MSG shows were -- most especially the two nights from '83
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