headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
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Comments

Playin' In The Band
Oct. 19, 1973
Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Arena

Deadprof & Cgarces are both spot-on. Just pulled this one out today and realized this version has a ton in common with the "Birdsong" from 6/22/73, in that it contains, dream-like, space-goo jazz passages that just float into your brain and give it a big musical hug. The flow back into the reprise is organically delicious and you get the sense that no matter how deep into cloudspace they went, the PITB focus was never lost, only waiting in the background. Superior version.
He's Gone
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Soulful like a gospel choir in the singing outro portion. Jerry's riffs into "Goin where the wind don't blow so strange" verse are worth the price of admission alone.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

Been listening to this show more and more and this EYES is certainly underrated, probably b/c '73 was so chock full of great versions. But this one has a steady consistency and a flawless groove that swings and rocks and jazzes along. Also it might be the first version of the year to avoid a lot of clunkiness in the post-lyrics "stronger than dirt" section....it mostly nails it down. Very sweet Eyes.
The Other One
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

All what's said above and more. Before they start the 'he's Gone" that precedes this 01, Bobby sez "We're gonna beg your indulgence and play another sorta slow one (they had done Ship of Fools right before), "but it won't stay slow for long", and the Other One that charges outta the gate led by Phil En Fuego proves him right. Some very cool pre-space exploration as well.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 19, 1981
Sports Palace

Upvote worthy. Kinda overlooked version and show. Lotta interesting S>F action in '81.
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