headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

10
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
22
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
3
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
9
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Almost beyond description. The last full jam leading into the GDTR chorus is a perfect storm example of what made the Dead magic

Comments

The Wheel
July 16, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

darkstar^^^good point that while a lot of wheels are spacey build-ups (& great they are) this one stands out for getting right into the theme but w/out sacrificing the ethereal moody mellowness of the tune. As Ernie noted as well some very distinguishable eastern influences make this a slightly different & wonderful version.
Let It Grow
Sept. 7, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

Was this really the live debut? If so, up there with the best “first evers” of all time. Jammed out & jazzy & rolls into a stellar Stella.
Stella Blue
Sept. 7, 1973
Nassau Coliseum

rolls gently & smoothly from Let It Grow & is a real gorgeous rendition with no interference on out of key vocals as later versions suffer from. End jam is surprisingly intricate & lengthy given the song's relative infancy. Excellent stuff.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 17, 1974
Winterland Arena

Heck yeah and to all the above comments. Worthy of way higher ranking
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Mind hasn't been changed about this version being undeserving of its far & away #1 all time position but (& perhaps this is obvious to some but it's only just recetly dawned on me) that perhaps the magic of this version is that it can be truly listed as ONE song more than any other existing rendition. The Scarlet end & Fire beginning are just about indistinguishable and the "transition: doesn't even really feel like one. All other versions stand out for their distinctive pairings but Corenll is truly all of one piece. It's amazing & should be rightfully celebrated for that fact. Best ever? Not to these ears. Top 20? Fer sure--and unique among all others--true as well.