headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.
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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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