headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

19
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 11, 1989
Meadowlands Arena

Bob's lyric phrasing on this version is unique. He sings it in a way so different than any I've heard before & it's inventive & super-fun. Must hear!
7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.

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