headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23529


Submissions

6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
12
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
40
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
42
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.
23
Jack Straw
May 10, 1978
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

From DP 25, Opens show at New Haven. Takes no prisoners. Extra shot of Jerry heading in bridge jam. Kinda surprised it's not on a list of 90+ Straws
show more submissions

Comments

Stella Blue
Sept. 2, 1979
Augusta Civic Center

Folks who like '79 Terrapins should give a listen to this Stella, given the same mellow, poignant, well-played treatment. Sweet version from a greatly underrated show
Eyes Of The World
March 20, 1991
Capital Centre

One of the best intros of the 90s versions, a 2 1/2 minute grooved out extravaganza that sets the tone for as jazzy and entry as you'll find outside of a Marsalis appearance. This is one of the finest "Eyes" of the latter day Dead, a top 5-er for sure, I'd have no problem grouping this one in with 3/25/90, 3/31/91, the opener at Giants Stadium (it's actually better) and 3/29/90. One thing I'm sure of--it deserves WAY more listens and a higher ranking.
The Eleven
April 27, 1969
Labor Temple

+1 just for the way it emerges flawlessly from the Other One & glides back in for the reprise. Everything in between is amazing as well & Jerry is doing liquid leads especially after the verse. Gold standard stuff.
Dark Star
April 27, 1969
Labor Temple

Grunge rock Dark Star. Jerry never stops playing his fuzzed-out acid drenched chops off in this one, unique among Stars I've heard from this era that almost always feature floaty, deep-space, twinkling Mickey-gong segments, but this puppy never stops romping all over the space provided, with the rest of the band adding the out-of-earth flourishes as Jerry just cranks his guitar and lets his fingers fly. Worth grabbing the official DP26 release for best sound quality. Exceptional DS'69 here.
The Other One
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

So much going on in this way way way underrated version--including a subtle butr quite distinct "Let It Grow" jam dropped in the midst of things. I'm on a mission to get this at least into double digits. Check out this monster version...spacey, multiple Jerry runs, peaks. great rumbling Phil intro, and the killer "Let It Grow" phrasing...get on this, folks.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)