headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

10
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
22
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
3
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
9
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Almost beyond description. The last full jam leading into the GDTR chorus is a perfect storm example of what made the Dead magic

Comments

Eyes Of The World
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

^So glad you noticed and commented on the cut in first jam bc even on the official release it’s a gross disservice. I used some software editing to restore the lost section (about 40 seconds worth) but even with the AUD patch it’s totally worth it
Jack Straw
Oct. 15, 1984
Civic Center

^^^^Dang you ain’t kidding! Garcia doing some serious lightning picking in the big jam section & the drumming is just insane. May be even better than Syracuse. Source provided is ok but could be better....haven’t searched yet but if you know of a better sounding board do let me know. Excellent rec, I may have to dig into second set as well, as I’m not familiar with this show.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 16, 1978
Huntington Civic Center

Should have upped this long ago. Such a vibrant, tight, bouncy Scarlet & a mellow, beautiful bridge to a confident Fire with Jerry in fine vocal form. One of the all time great Betty Boards taboot. Always happy to come back to this classic & really when you look at the list, this one should be sitting higher.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
May 26, 1973
Kezar Stadium

May have to go back & upvote almost every track from this A+ show that now sounds more amazing than ever: https://archive.org/details/gd1973-05-26.150710.SBD.BettyBoard.Anon.Noel.fixed.t-flac16/gd73-05-26.s3t07.flac seriously, this is no ordinary upgrade. Run, don't walk.
Estimated Prophet
March 30, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Put another way: best version you've never heard