headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
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Comments

Estimated Prophet
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

This is a great version but in defense of '77 I must point out that the soloing and especially outro jams on Estimated started to get stretched out on the fall tour. 10/29/77 offers a pretty good example.
The Wheel
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

100% agree. Perfect show that only seems to get props for the joyous weirdness of the space but really virtually every song is tour de force, this Wheel no exception. My favorite Estimated and Brokedown are from this show as well.
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 20, 1974
Winterland Arena

I actually prefer this one to the more sought-after 1/2 hour version from earlier in this Winterland run (on 10/16). This is a trippy yet still jazzy exploration into mellow/gooey territory, while the whole band attacks the vocal sections with gusto and precision. The sandwich middle is tasty too and there's a long, flowing rejoinder heading into the eventual reprise, This needs a little hike up the vote ladder.
Dire Wolf
Nov. 6, 1977
Broome County Arena

So easy to overlook good versions of this song b/c it's so short and --for a Dead tune-- fairly uniform. But the standouts deserve attention and this is one of them from a monster show of the '77 fall tour.
Stella Blue
Oct. 17, 1974
Winterland Arena

I also love this one because nobody (i.e. Donna) ruins the "shine" chorus after Jerry dusts off those rusty strings just one more time. In fact, no one repeats the "shine" line and it's so much better for the omission. Instead it's all about the beauty of the tune and Jer's magnificent solo to follow. Too many pre-Brent versions (even in the golden year of '77) were marred by the off-key back up chorus, but not this one. I didn't mind in the 80's when Brent joined in, because his voice was perfect for the back-up, but this is one where the tune breathes and succeeds from a "less is more" approach.
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