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.
show more submissions

Comments

Pretty Peggy O
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

^^^^ Agree, but wit the caveat that this is still Avery fine version & would land squarely in my personal top 15-20 list, but would not crack the top 10. There’s beautiful flow, pacing, and singing here but the key mid jam solo never breaks from the pack of other epic versions & ultimately lands as “nice” but to my ears not quite worthy of the status it has currently on the board. My quick list of superior versions would be 5/19/77, 5/12/77, 12/27/77, 5/5/77, 9/3/77, 4/16/78, 4/12/78, 10/30/77, 12/30/77, & for some sleeper picks try 9/4/80 and 8/24/80
Playin' In The Band
April 21, 1978
Rupp Arena

It's time to up the Rupp. Crazy good spacey entry here ignored on the board for no good reason I can see, This is a hella underrated show--maybe because so many others this month overshadow it--but this is an epic PITB chock full of jazzy surprises & yeah, how many jams include a nod to the Bee Gee??? Easy +1
Werewolves of London
April 21, 1978
Rupp Arena

Really tentative, sluggish start, almost like they don't know whether to play the main theme fast or slow & it barely coalesces as Jerry enters the opening lyric. Plus Bob's obnoxious slide is way too loud. So why am I upping this one? Because as stated above, the howling & wailing & pure total monster FUN of this version is too great to ignore (just listen to Jerry & Donna in unison on "he'll rip your lungs out, Jim!") & you'll hear what I mean.
Eyes Of The World
June 24, 1973
Memorial Coliseum

Dreamy intro, loose & flowing & longer than most for the year...that loosey-goose feeling lopes along right up until Jerry;s first solo break & then he's off to the races & so is the rest of the gang. There's really no "bad" version from this year I can think of off the top of my head...the trick is to sift through all the diamonds to find some that are a little rough around the edges perhaps but shone with a special brightness in part because of those brilliant differences. This is one of 'em!
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 17, 1978
Winterland Arena

Find the matrix, crank it up, & wonder just how in the hellinabucket is this pairing so far down the list. The date & venue alone should vault this one at least into listening range & my only guess is the lack of a top notch SBD (if there is let me know) but the matrix available is a beaut & so is this version. Great rich '78 multi-layered jamming from everyone, ,lots of balance/contributions from all & a thick transition jam, hot hot fire.. Grossly underrated & we all oughta get some ups on this to rectify the issue.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)