headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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!
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Comments

He's Gone
Sept. 3, 1972
Folsom Field, University of Colorado

The sustained Jerry guitar ring echo into TOO is insane. Brilliant. Also, props for Jerry blowing the line for "dogs in a pile" first time around, but deftly subbing in a repeat of "like I told ya" instead, but THEN, he makes up for it by bringing back the "dogs in a pile/nothing left to do but smile smile smile" line later on! A rare lyrical backpedal and save by Jerry, much better than his usual mumble-jumble when he messes up a lyric!
They Love Each Other
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Check out near the end when Jerry goes full- on Dylan singing "better not be there when it rolls oh-vaaah". Whole version is a byoot.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 7, 1972
Bickershaw Festival

I tend to lump all the E72 versions of ChinaRider together & that's my bad b/c this version has a stand-out feel to it, most notably with Phil in total beast mode & just driving the whole train start to finish. Great jamming in the transition as expected, but I'm disappointed to see this just barely into double digits. Outstanding rendition that should break from the pack at some point.
He's Gone
Nov. 22, 1972
Austin Municipal Auditorium

Late to the upvote but very deserving version here that could use a lot more love. Whole show seems underrated but if you check out even one tune from this show it oughta be this
He's Gone
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Oh I checked that out recently based on your rec in another thread. Fantastic mellow version with a great vocal section!
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