headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24533


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.

Comments

Estimated Prophet
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Thanks for the heads up on the other reprise versions, Klaussmith! I must go and find and listen...I was convinced Baltimore was the only time, but if there are others, that's great! Love how it sounds when they bring it back around!
Here Comes Sunshine
Feb. 17, 1973
St. Paul Auditorium

Not the best HCS & not the best China>Rider to follow either (tho' neither is bad)....HOWEVER, this transition from HCS>ChinaCat is one of the, if not THE best supercool&smooth transitions the band EVER performed, on par with and perhaps better than SugarMag>Scarlet from Alpine '89. Worth it just for the seamless transition alone.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Seek out the new "Seaweed" SBD version which is superior to all others and marvel at how bouncy, jammy and loosey-goosey awesome this version really is. Insanely good "Eyes" as well...
Playin' In The Band
June 22, 1973
Pacific Coliseum

Much like the "Birdsong" from this great show, there are elements of "Dark Star" and great gooey mellow spaciness in this version. Needs more votes.
Cosmic Charlie
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Must agree. Vocally, Donna keeps things in a sweet spot and the slow but not too-slow tempo carries this one into #1 territory.