headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


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.
show more submissions

Comments

Dark Star
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

Have only just come around to appreciating this one...the first 12 mins. leading up to the first verse are simply beautiful...it's jazz to meditate to and luxuriate in...the rest of the journey gets deeper into harder driving themes but as has been mentioned in these comments never deviates into ear-splitting dissonant cacophony--which is a good thing. Then you get that sublime segue into Sugar Mag and, wow, those lucky Brits got to hear one of the all-timers.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 25, 1973
Feyline Field

Did they ever perform a bad version of this song in 1973? I have my doubts but even in a sea of goodness this one deserves some love for its spacey-jazzy consistency.
St. Stephen
April 23, 1969
The Ark

@spaced and @donnyraindoc Go check out 10/29/77 before you decide there are no Stephens past '71 worth exploring.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

THis one's all about the incredible segue of "Dark Star Jam" leading flawlessly/seamlessly into the opening notes of China Cat...the version that follows is pretty freaking great also...maybe shave half a point off for not the best SBD quality, but that has nothing to do w/the quality of the performance...they didn't start China Cat coming out of other songs very often, but this, along with the HCS>China Cat from 2/17/73 are the best I've ever heard.
Row Jimmy
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Listen to Jerry's flow-like-a-river first solo. How smooth is that? A rare mid-tempo "not too fast and not too slow" version that needs much more love.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)