headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

9
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
2
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 4, 1982
Kiel Auditorium

Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.
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Comments

Wharf Rat
May 17, 1977
Memorial Coliseum

Another thing I love about this deep, rich, Wharf Rat from an equally profound show is the way it literally rolls in from the drummers in one of the more sublime transitions I've ever heard with this tune. Stupendous on its own but made extra special by the lead-in from the playin' jam.
He's Gone
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

There's some extra chaw & drawl in Jerry's guitar solo before the bridge chorus & oh man, is it filthy good.
Dark Star
Nov. 26, 1972
San Antonio Civic Auditorium

Such a pity there isn’t a high quality recording of this show available. I don’t care for the final feedback portion but the FG jam before it and this version overall is sublime.
Terrapin Station
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Spectacular version I should have upped earlier. This & the historic Alhambra version two days previous are likely the two best ever performed in the song’s infancy and can hang with any at the top of this list. There’s a grace & delicate flow to these earlier versions that gets lost in later years (the 1979 versions see a return to some of the gentleness but while it’s ethereal & lovely it lacks the steady continuity of narrative they achieved in versions like this). Heady stuff for sure.
Estimated Prophet
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

^^^^yes there was some confusion on my end there but I see what folks mean about that extended jam in the ‘78 versions. I still love the spacey outros of the ‘77s but there’s an undeniable thrill in the big sections post 77 with the only risk being that Bobby sometimes jumps back in too quick on the vocal while Jer is still shredding (not so on this one)
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