headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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!
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Comments

She Belongs To Me
Sept. 15, 1985
Devore Field

With all due respect to the Dick's Picks version currently ranked above this one, THIS is the most beautiful version of the classic Dylan tune the boys ever performed. Jerry's middle solo is like a drifting cloud you can't stop staring at. His vocal delivery here is stronger than 11/1 and the final solo digs deeper. I'd like to see this one in the #1 slot.
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Bestest of the best right here. Jerry belts out the vocals, nails all the lyrics. Confident, chunky Phil-led backbeat...and tons o' fun.
Gimme Some Lovin'
June 15, 1985
Greek Theater

J_B is right on. I don't think they ever performed this song perfectly, but the transition from Wheel>Gimme Some is absolutely sublime, perhaps even the most underrated transition the band ever performed. Brilliant. Take a half point off for Bobby's out of tune falsetto screeching at the end (which is very much on purpose and not meant to be taken seriously), but even so this one is deserving of a far higher ranking than it has right now.
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Oct. 13, 1994
Madison Square Garden

I was a doubter too, but no longer, Best/most surprising thing about this version is that Jerry's voice doesn't sound like a frog getting pureed in a blender, as most anything post 1991 does. It's not quite the level of 10/10/82 (my all time favorite) but an upper echelon version for certain.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Dec. 11, 1972
Winterland Arena

Really impressed with this. Most early versions have me saying "meh" but this one has some extra Jerry guitar work and a lovely rolling gait to it. Nice recommend.
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