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

Eyes Of The World
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

I've been undervaluing this one for too long. Jerry's intro is endless and powerful and the in-between verses jams are deep deep deep! Maybe a point off for Jer's vocals, which are pretty weak and tepid in this version, but the jamming more than makes up for it.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

@rchoover88 Oh, believe me--I have it! Couldn't wait to have and hear this show in HDCD and so psyched it's here. Liner notes describe this version as "lighter than air" or something and that's pretty spot-on. This version just flows like a river. And wait til you get to 5/13 in ChiTown. Different vibe but also amazing.
Cosmic Charlie
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

OK, where exactly has this version been hiding all this time? Vocally superior to any CC I've ever heard before. Sweet, mellow, beautifully played. Simply terrific little bridge jam in the middle before the coda featuring fluid Jerry and a gliding Keith (who also shines at the end). Spot-on choice and my new favorite.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Needed to bump this version after repeated recent listening of the DP release. SCORCHING jam section that loses nothing by omission of the feelin groovy jam...the intensity of the garcia riffs more than makes up for it, and the rendition of IKYR doesn't let up either. Exceptional reading of ChinaCat as well and very strong vocals from Jerry.
Dark Star
Feb. 26, 1973
Pershing Municipal Auditorium

The first 19 minutes of this Dark Star gets my vote as best, most musically gorgeous and "true jazz" version ever performed. Around the 11 minute mark Phil starts laying down a Miles Davis-like line that Bobby follows flawlessly and Jerry adds delicate touches to. Sadly, after the verse is sung at 19 minutes it denigrates into dissonant space-junk-scary-feedback ridiculousness (I realize this is blasphemy to many) and so I can't give it "best ever" status, but those first 19 minutes are so good I did add a vote to bump this one up the ladder.
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