headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

24
Franklin's Tower
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

One of the best played versions from one of the best played shows in the Brent era---ever.
16
Shakedown Street
March 24, 1981
Rainbow Theater

15+ minutes of funk w/extended overlapping vocal rounds of "just gotta poke around", etc. before jam Brent adds cool "fuzzy" SFX
1
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Check out Keith on this one! He's never been so up front before & right outta the gate!!
21
Cream Puff War
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Peppy early version w/Jer belting out lyrics & Pig doin' some nice work on organ. No archive copy exists; got this off 30 Days of Dead-worth the DL!
9
Passenger
May 7, 1979
Allan Kirby Field House

Super-charged EARLY Brent version rips and tears and shreds. Final jam before the coda is the best they ever did in this tune. Goes to 11.
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Comments

So Many Roads
July 9, 1995
Soldier Field

@Younghead: Thank you for a very thoughtful and moving post. I don't really have anything to say about this show, or even this song (which truth to tell I never really cared for), but you summed up quite eloquently the state of the band and the man in the end days. I think all of us here remember him the way he was when he was good--and when he was good, there was no one better.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 17, 1976
Capitol Theater

Really sweet. Two nights later (6/19/76) is also a winner!
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 12, 1980
Swing Auditorium

Really time to give this version more love & votes. Klaussmith prefers the AUD; I am more partial to the SBD--neither are perfect but that should not stop you from listening to and thoroughly enjoying this awesome version. Either source is more than worthy. The Mountain Jam tease is way cool, but that's not the only thing that makes this rendition a top pick. The jamming is fluid and rockin' and while lots of China>Riders lose their steam once they get into "Rider", this one charges ahead at full speed and doesn't let up. Outstanding stuff.
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 22, 1973
Assembly Hall, University of Illinois

Roaring acid-jazz version. Jerry just never lets up. Definitely for those in the mood for a more raucous performance and fewer mellow moments, but it's a tour de force for sure and worthy of the best from this (or any) year.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
July 1, 1985
Merriweather Post Pavilion

@AMDew: Agreed. Even though this is not a "top" version for me (not much in '85 is), I think Copps '90 is grossly overrated, at least as ranked here. No way does it beat out so many of the late 70's early 80's versions that appear far lower on this list. (Guess i'm really not a fan of Jerry's MIDI jams, which really define the Copps version.)
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