headyversion
find the best versions of grateful dead songs
please
login
or
register
.
grendel
Books and Music
+24543
Submissions
43
Estimated Prophet
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center
From the famous "ravenspace" show; the only version in which the main theme is reprised+lots of Bob yelling
64
Ship of Fools
May 9, 1977
War Memorial
Perfection. The "comes a time" for this show gets all the attention but this SOF is just as grand
64
Uncle John's Band
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center
Part of a 2nd set for the ages; flows in & out of PITB teases & then reprises into killer Dew
20
Terrapin Station
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena
Hold on tight!
51
Bertha
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University
Sweet bass drop-ins by Phil on intro; extended Garcia solos in bridge jam; very intense and fun
show more submissions
Comments
Aiko Aiko
April 9, 1988
Centrum
Fast & furious but spot-on with Jerry belting out vocals with an extra growl in his delivery towards the end..."Indian boy wanna go downtown..." verse included with the crowd giving it up for it right after. Short but blazing & party-down rendition worthy of upvote.
Loose Lucy
March 27, 1993
Knickerbocker Arena
Best version post-callback, hands down, and really, perhaps the best ever. It's close to impossible to find another version in which Garcia doesn't mess up at least one lyric (no missteps here), and this versions just hits every note, rocks hard, has great back-up vox, and a middle jam that Jerry tears into and winds up just exactly perfect into the final two verses. Drop the mic stuff here.
Playin' In The Band
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena
Wish more folks would give this a listen and bump it WAY higher. As isles said this is an excellent sandwich version (the transition into Samson is sublime & I don't know how many times they even did this combo but I doubt there's a better one out there) but the Playin' itself--on both ends--is just spectacular: At times quiet, contemplative, at others jazzy and winding and never without focus. Keith in particular comes thru beautifully on this version and the lengthy reprise takes a sweet journey in and out of the main theme before coming back fully in a great conclusion. I believe '77 was the last truly great year for this song before it (mostly) became a lazy sort of vehicle to get into space or start a 2nd set with just a hint of exploration before heading perfunctorily into another tune, and frankly not all the versions in '77 gave it quite this level of respect and execution. Give this whole suite another try if you haven't in a while and see if you don't come away with renewed appreciation.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena
No longer. Too good a version to be kept under double digits, though there are better ones this same month (5/18 and 5/22, but that's a pretty high bar.)
Althea
Dec. 12, 1980
Swing Auditorium
WHAT is this doing so far down the list??? This version groooooves its way to a spectacular Jerry solo end flourish. Superior rendition deserving of far higher ranking.
show more comments
hot songs
Dark Star
Playin' In The Band
Eyes Of The World
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
new submissions
Pretty Peggy O, The Summit, Dec. 21, 1978
Sugaree, Autzen Stadium, June 18, 1994
When I Paint My Masterpiece, Crisler Arena, April 6, 1989
more submissions
recent comments
Seriously rips. Cool to ...
Gets a vote because ...
Kinda dig this one ...
more comments
resources & sponsors
about