headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

52
Jack Straw
June 4, 1978
Campus Stadium - University Of California

For the love of Jerry you MUST listen to this immediately. Cease all other activities and prepare to have your jaw hit the floor!
13
The Music Never Stopped
Sept. 24, 1976
William and Mary College Hall

Seguing out of a sick Franklin's Tower it gets fast, flawless rolling licks from Jerry and great timing from the rest +killer final Jam
5
Brokedown Palace
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet end to a magical show. Perfect harmonies w/Brent. Only flaw is when Bob says "careful up there" to someone doin' somethin' werid in the rafters
118
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 20, 1984
Philadelphia Civic Center

Talk about slipping through the cracks: This is a classic long, jamming sick slick trip thru both tunes. Intro to FIRE one of the best ever performed
33
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Nov. 6, 1977
Broome County Arena

Outstanding version with a nice Jerry-led jam early in the tune, after the first verse.

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)