headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

11
Aiko Aiko
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

With the Neville Bros. Jerry gets his Big Easy on.
16
Promised Land
May 25, 1977
The Mosque

Perfection to end the first set of one of the truly great shows ever. Keith, Bobby, Jerry--the whole crew is in the pocket and rocking it hard.
14
Promised Land
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Both the best and worst version ever. Why? April Fool's gag: Bobby - keys, Brent & Jerry -drums, Billy - bass - Mickey -guitar Phil-vocals
75
Big River
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

They just could do no wrong at this show, Hidden among all the other gems is this monster River. Big solo work by Jerry; nice fills by Keith.
13
Brother Esau
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Complete with kickin' cow bell, nice long intro, easily one of the best you'll find.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 13, 1991
Madison Square Garden

well whaddaya know, this one really is fantastic & grossly underrated & just now gets into double digits w/this upvote. Long, windy, very colorful excursion w/Jerome in uncharacteristically fine vocal form for '91 & the "fire " suffers not at all from a single lyric lost...really needs some attention.
The Other One
June 26, 1973
Seattle Center Coliseum

Haha indeed cgarces & I do agree. It’s why I tend to avoid commenting on (most) versions of TOO from ‘72-‘74 bc so many go off into that soundjunk mode & I just don’t care for it (a number of fine dark stars from the same era leave me similarly annoyed) but I’ve been finding some cool versions that don’t get as dissonant from 1971 and that still deliver great moments of improv jazz like exploration. Late fall/winter especially from that year.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 10, 1976
Boston Music Hall

One of the very best languishing oddly low in the standings. Patient, rolling, beautifully joined by all players, with a perfect pace for the Help, a super-jazz-infused reading of Slipknot & then a pic-perfect Franklin's with Jer in command of all the verses lyrically and typically hot runs of jamming between the verses. Really needs more ears.
West L.A. Fadeaway
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Spot-on observation about how well Jerry sings this version, which is surprising given the year, but even the grand master of them all, the well-deserved #1 slotted Alpine '89 version isn't sung as well as this and of course, the jamming is spectacular as is often the case w West LA. Needs way more than the paltry 2 votes it had when I just added mine
Estimated Prophet
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

This is great & may I say the Eyes that follows is also mysteriously underrated and one of the top 10 of ‘77 which means it’s one of the all time best
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