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

Franklin's Tower
Oct. 20, 1978
Winterland Arena

5 votes when I got to this one? Blasphemous. Bouncy, groovy, rockin' Franklin's from a well known show. C'mon, folks.
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 28, 1983
Civic Auditorium

Not sure why this very exploratory version gets so little attention. Maybe bc ‘83 is not considered a great year for the tune, I dunno, but this is a real stretched out jazz performance with Brent really digging in and Bob on his game, too. Fans of 10/14/83 S>F>Est>Eyes will dig this as will others who give it a chance.
Brown Eyed Women
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

^^^^Hey Ernie I agree 100% w/everything you say here, & you describe the differences beautifully, but my only quibble is--why Cornell? I've tried & I just don;t get the high ranking for Cornell for THIS particular tune. It's a fine version to be sure but to repeat a point I know I've made before there are so many better, tighter versions, with a superior vocal & a more electrifying bridge, & just off the top of my head I'd say 11/4/77 is one of them. Otherwise, I'd say you're spot on that while this show is undeniably classic, there are better '77 versions of BEW that get lost in the shuffle below it. (I just don't think 5/8/77 is necessarily one of them).
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
March 24, 1993
Dean Smith Center

Kudos to all above who’ve been raving about this version and show overall. I admit to barely giving a glance at ‘93 shows but this one really delivers the goods. Jerry’s giving it the old college try vocally and has his cool granddad delivery working grandly and the whole band kicks this thing into overdrive, Version can stand up to any era, really. Oughta be higher. And is that Vinny crushing the old school piano solo?
St. Stephen
Jan. 11, 1978
Shrine Auditorium

Top shelf late 70s ban burner. The mislabeled "space" leading into this Stephen is really a mini jam that dew drops perfectly into one hell of a great reading with an intro reminiscent of my all time favorite from 10-29-77 and there are similarities to the two for sure. Great relaxed jam section, not quite as hard rocking as the DeKalb version but great nonetheless. Re-entry a little clunky but nothing that seriously detracts from overall greatness here and a really under the radar show this is. There's a fine Miller sbd available so there's no reason to miss this one. Goes right into a raucous NFA. +1 easy.
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