headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

19
Satisfaction
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Weir: "We know we aint gonna get no satisfaction but we're gonna give it a try...You can scream& twist & beg & cry!"
71
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Lightning quick yet totally on-track riffs from Jerry; intense, powerful version. Weir 100% into it. Segues into killer Deal. Trust me. Must hear.
51
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Perfect wind up, pitch & strike down the middle. I've yet to hear a better one, though I'll try some of the recs here. Til then.....
29
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

From one of the greatest shows ever, a bring the house down killer. Keith w/perfect piano exc. point!
43
Althea
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Perfect groove and massive push from Phil post-lyrics

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.