headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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

Hard to Handle
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Get the Matrix. Dang.
Stella Blue
April 21, 1978
Rupp Arena

Thanks, Patch. Good to see it up there leading the pack. I really believe that's the best version...certainly as far as instrumental beauty and ferocity. This one here's pretty good too, but 10/21/78 is in a class by itself.
Feel Like A Stranger
July 17, 1989
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Since I was lucky enough to be there I should do the right thing and bump this up the ladder even more. Phenomenal 3-day run at Alpine. So many great tunes featuring a revived Jerry. Bobby & Brent own this one, though.
Not Fade Away
Nov. 2, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Start your New Year (1/1/15) as I write this off on the right foot w/perhaps the most unique NFA I've ever heard. The intro sounds almost like "Don't Let Go" rather than NFA but everyone in the band is in on it and in the pocket. As Klaussmith notes the following jams are ripping and intriguing in a way that just feels different than most any version you'll hear from any era, and it just cooks all the way thru. Top 10 version, all-time.
Shakedown Street
Dec. 28, 1978
Golden Hall, Community Concourse

This has got to go higher on the list. About as tight and focused and fun as you will ever hear. Check out the jam after the 2nd verse. Get on this version now and bump... it... UP!
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