headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.
11
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
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Comments

Estimated Prophet
Dec. 26, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

I'll up it just because I agree that the Mosque version shouldn't be above it on the list. But there's more than a few of these kinds of head-scratchers around here...i.e. the #1 Terrapin being from the Swing, the always controversial Barton Hall Scarlet>Fire blowing away all competition (and, far more ridiculous--Copps 1990 firmly in 2nd place), and as for Estimated...why not try 10/29/77 and see why that one is only in the single digits on the vote counter?
Good Lovin'
Dec. 12, 1969
Thelma Theater

Never been a fan of the extended half hour versions w/Pig rapping about stuff...I realize that's blasphemy to some...but I prefer this tight, sweet version w/a cool drum break followed by a rippin good jam and then they're done. Just right, and Pig is spot on leading up to it all.
Dire Wolf
Dec. 12, 1969
Thelma Theater

Weird is exactly the right word, but also wonderful. This sounds so different than any DW I've ever heard, probably due to TC's organ but there's also just a super-countrified loping rhythm to this version that's unlike any other...what gets it my Upvote is Jerry's truly gorgeous vocals.
Terrapin Station
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Could go through this show song by song and upvote every one, but yeah, this Terrapin shoulda oughta been here already.
Bird Song
Oct. 2, 1972
Springfield Civic Center

Oh, man. What is this doing mired near the bottom of the list? Listen to Jerry's first foray right after the opening verses. No holds barred here...just off the charts shredding and yet Keith somehow manages to get his keys in edgewise to mellow things out after the frontal assault. Then everyone is in on the action to drive the bus down a winding road of deep jamming excellence. I know there's a lot of great Birdsongs out there and many are well represented high on this list, but here's one that's been inexplicably overlooked and needs to climb the ladder.
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