headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
4
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!
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!

Comments

Morning Dew
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

^^^^glad to hear I’m not the only one who compares 4/78 to 5/77 ... so true. While I don’t put this particular Dew into my all time list (a few too many off note clams esp. in the early sections) this show overall & practically the whole month of April 78 has that “throw a dart hit a great show” dynamic just like May of 77 does. (4/8 4/12 4/15 4/16 4/24 all A+ gems). I do love this Dew tho bc it’s the only one of the year & of course there are parts where Jer just drops the hammer & stops you in your trax.
Let It Grow
April 20, 1984
Philadelphia Civic Center

Just a dense thicket of jam, everyone's ablaze here especially the rhythm devils. The Scarlet>Fire (deservedly) gets the lion's share of attention for this show but this is a show stopper in its own right.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
April 18, 1978
Civic Arena

...and worthy of those extra votes! A high energy version that does not suffer from sloppy or rushed playing as many later versions (esp. in the 80's) would , and Bobby pretty much nails down the lyrics here, which was never a given. but you can also tell how much fun they're having here & Donna is very much involved in a good way. Glad to nudge this into double digits
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 14, 1977
Hofheinz Pavilion

Absolute beast here...rockin' to start then drifting & dreaming with lots of contemplative space. Nice rejoin, too. Heckuva show but then again there's a whole lot of those from autumn 77
Passenger
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Ugly train wreck as either Donna/Bobby come in too early on “passenger don’t you hear me” vocal or Garcia wasn’t ready. Either way the botch on this critical part of the tune keeps it from an upvote here. Most of the rest of this show is gold of course....