headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.
show more submissions

Comments

Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 3, 1977
Raceway Park

Agree with Estimated insofar as that while Englishtown is a fine show, it is not to my ears as spectacular as its rep seems to be. For the greatest 1/2 step ever performed--by a country mile--I go immediately to Broome County 11/6/77, and have yet to hear a better one. Yes, that includes 5/7/77, which is terrific.
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 8, 1982
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Nice call. Fast-pickin' by Jerry but controlled at the same time--nice, extended bridge solo and no flubs on the lyrics. I tend towards 1977 versions but this one speaks well for its time!
Eyes Of The World
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

I can't vote for this twice but can add that it is indeed criminally underrated here. The opening jam alone before a word is sung is a thing of beauty and the ensuing jams in between are stunning in execution and inventiveness. It's not quite the level of the IMO best-ever 10/29/77 but it's not far off either.
Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 31, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

This is the longer, un-cut original version from "Dead Set"!
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 30, 1978
Pauley Pavilion

Props to Donna on this one. Possibly her finest moment of adding lovely, in-tune scatting for the first portion of the transition jam. Rolls it along nicely into the instrumental jam section. The "Fire" in this pairing is noteworthy as well for Jerry's excellent vocals--belting out the lyrics, and--a rarity--not missing a single word.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)