headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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
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Comments

Estimated Prophet
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

oops mean to comment on the eyes from this show but this is a very worthy lead-in estimated
Eyes Of The World
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

^^^^poster bladexni totally nails it re: my absolute favorite thing about this version. That little foray into space/slipknot/breakdown at around the 9:30-10:00 minute mark trails off like Wile E. Coyote running past the cliff edge where he hangs in mid-air a full long second or two before realizing what's happened...you think maybe they've kost the thread but when the bottom falls out they all plunge as one headlong back into the main theme and it is pure Grateful Dead magic. I've yet to hear a bad '73 version but I'm not sure I've ever heard one where they pull off that particular trick.
Aiko Aiko
July 5, 1978
Omaha Civic Auditorium

You just found buried treasure if you made it down this far to find this serious underrated version. Played at a brisk clip w/tight contributions from all (great drums here) esp. all (fair warning for a tad too much Bobby slide) but Jer's growling out the vox for a very big crowd & Donna's right there w/him. Oughta be way higher.
Pretty Peggy O
June 30, 1974
Civic Center

There are lots of more jammed out versions to come in '77 but I don't think I've ever heard Jerry's vocals better sung than on this little early ditty right here. I mean like sweet as honey vocals...easy upvote for that alone but also Keith fans will swoon over his beautiful fills here. .
Eyes Of The World
June 30, 1974
Civic Center

Go directly to this Miller source: https://archive.org/details/gd1974-06-30.sbd.miller.96275.sbeok.flac16/gd74-06-30d3t05.flac & tell me this isn't one of the greatest intros to EOTW you've ever laid ears on....oh, & the rest to follow is typically jazz jam '74 Deadheaven. Sleeper indeed.
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