headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

14
Big Railroad Blues
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

So rippin' good. Get your Jerry on.
28
Deep Elem Blues
April 5, 1982
The Spectrum

For a stellar electric version check out this one from Philly. Also included as filler material for Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 4
8
El Paso
May 10, 1972
Concertgebouw

Bobby's vocals are especially sweet & heartfelt in this one & Jerry adds some tasty southwestern-style licks. Very smooth.
15
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 28, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Interesting & under the radar version-sweet & mellow w/a relaxed intro & then usual great '77 exploration jamming--but more lovely than intense
12
Not Fade Away
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Check the new "Seaweed" SBD of this version...KILLER out of space... full 3 mins+ of pickin' Jammin' and Bobby rythms & Brent's sweeping flourishes!
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Comments

Here Comes Sunshine
Dec. 19, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

I'd also make the case for 2/15/73 over this one, although I couldn't call this one "bad." But it certainly is NOT anywhere near as good as 2/23/74, which I stand by as the greatest ever. The DP audio quality for this show is not great, either, which i think hurts it a bit as well...but there are better versions sound issues notwithstanding.
Terrapin Station
Sept. 2, 1979
Augusta Civic Center

Kinder and gentler yes, but also brilliant. Jerry sings this perhaps better than any Terrapin in history. The mid-jam section is gorgeous and flowing and beautiful and the choruses into "Terrapin" feature perfect backing harmonies from Brent and Bobby. There is an incredible SBD copy of this show that highlights everything great about this version AND if that wasn't enough it actually goes into an amazing Let It Grow, which is a real rarity. This version deserves to be catapulted into top range territory, I kid you not. Please give it a listen and boost it up the ladder here. It's already in my personal Top 10 all time, it's THAT good.
Wharf Rat
Feb. 18, 1971
Capitol Theater

This one and the first Terrapin from 2/26/77 are both where they are based on the novelty of being first. If you heard this version of Wharf Rat having no knowledge of its date of origin you couldn't possibly put it in a top 10 category, much less #1. As cgarces points out, you can pick a random Rat from virtually any 1977 show and have it blow the doors off this version. (Try 10/7/77 just for kicks.)
Ship of Fools
July 16, 1990
Rich Stadium

Really impressed with this. While it won't do anything to displace my fave all time of 5/9/77 it is worthy of a top 5 version candidate and hands down best of the 90's. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. This is also exhibit A for why there are certain songs only Jerry could pull of vocally, no offense to the fine efforts in these last Santa Clara/Chicago shows of 2015. But like Morning Dew, Ship of Fools NEEDS Jerry's voice to be Ship of Fools, and he's in fine form here.
Dark Star
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

There's a very pretty section here at around the 15, 16-minute mark that is unlike any other version I've heard. Reminds me a little of Earl Klugh doing "So Many Stars"...it's quiet and lovely and not at all dissonant...just before they launch into the verse. This whole version is on the mellow side and I really like it for that. It doesn't reach any major peaks or rev into any known themes such as Tighten Up Jam but in its own elegant way, this Dark Star stands out and gets my upvote.
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