headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.
6
The Other One
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Short but raging. Look beyond the length & enjoy for the fire within. Jerry attacks this from the get-go & it's awesome.
2
Truckin'
Dec. 12, 1993
San Diego Sports Arena

Anybody else hear a very distinctive riff of Steely Dan's "Black Friday" in the intro?
5
Sugar Magnolia
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Just listen & you will believe. End jam before SSDD is a tidal wave of sound & power & beauty. A true must hear.
7
Darkness Jam
June 6, 1970
Fillmore West

Just one jam theme among many. this should be called "Kitchen Sink" jam. Has so much & all so good
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Comments

Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

The unheralded portion of this great version is the "help", which to my ears is performed better than any other. Check out the first jam section...it's fluid and jazzy and perfect in every way and just carries the momentum beautifully into "slipknot " without rushing along. The rest is pretty great too but it's the first of the trilogy in this version that makes it special.
He's Gone
May 22, 1982
Greek Theatre - University of California

Yessiree, and this whole show is among those in '82 that somehow get overlooked for overall excellence. Also check out 9/11/82 for a real sleeper show.
They Love Each Other
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

The more I listen to this DP release the more I realize it's one of the top 5 in the series. This TLEO just offers up another example for why.
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 3, 1977
Raceway Park

Most interesting about this fine version is that it comes as close as possible to being a kind of "rock and roll" rendition of what is in every other version a quiet, heartfelt ballad. This is played at a much faster pace than most others and with far edgier, louder, and grittier leads by Jerry that definitely evoke more of a rock feel. Perhaps this was intentional as they were playing before an enormous festival crowd at Raceway Park and wanted to avoid anything too slow and potentially drowsy.
Crazy Fingers
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

Very tasty, and Donna doesn't get in the way as in other '76 versions at key moments...it also melts rather sweetly into "Comes a Time", which is nice.
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