headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
45
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
28
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
13
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.
35
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
show more submissions

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.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)