headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.
6
The Other One
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Short but raging. Look beyond the length & enjoy for the fire within. Jerry attacks this from the get-go & it's awesome.
2
Truckin'
Dec. 12, 1993
San Diego Sports Arena

Anybody else hear a very distinctive riff of Steely Dan's "Black Friday" in the intro?
5
Sugar Magnolia
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Just listen & you will believe. End jam before SSDD is a tidal wave of sound & power & beauty. A true must hear.
7
Darkness Jam
June 6, 1970
Fillmore West

Just one jam theme among many. this should be called "Kitchen Sink" jam. Has so much & all so good
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Comments

Cold Rain and Snow
May 24, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Time I upvoted this. It's not my favorite all time (see 10/12/83 for that) but as it's been noted in the comments here, this version is vocally superior and just so very polished. Exceptional version.
Mexicali Blues
March 9, 1993
Rosemont Horizon

Still not a tune I love but true that these 90s versions go the extra mile compared with the mostly throw-aways of the 80s (and 70s too if we're being honest.) Similar additions in the jamming to tunes like El Paso,(the acoustic guitar change-over was a nice touch) Big RR Blues, & Promised Land made many early 90s versions more interesting than some of the older ones.
Cassidy
May 14, 1978
Providence Civic Center

Like 4/24/78 this one ends on an intense rolling jam that pulls into the final coda without Weir adding the last "flight of the seabirds" line, and it's almost better for it. This and the aforementioned 4/24 may be the two best versions in the era before they expanded the song with longer jam sections around '82-'83. It's also beautifully sung and less rushed than its early 80s counterparts. Higher ranking, please!
Althea
June 18, 1983
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

It's because there's no clean SBD available. A lot of great shows suffer low ratings for the same reason. Great show and version, though.
The Eleven
April 20, 1969
Clark University

Whole show is an under the radar gem. Don't miss the Dark Star from this one either.
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