headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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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
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Comments

Shakedown Street
Dec. 30, 1978
Pauley Pavilion

Disco Dead in the best possible way. Total funk achieved from the moment the seamless transition from PITB is initiated & then you hear Jerry's fingers fly while staying in the pocket like a veteran QB unfazed by the blitz & finding his receivers over & over again on laser focused slant passes. Quick-take Shakedown that packs so much punch in its under 10 minute run it can stand with any of the marathon monsters from later years. Easy +1
Stella Blue
June 30, 1985
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Adding vote bc yes this is a fine melancholy Stella & one of the rare times Jerry’s croaky voice lends pathos to the tune & only reason I hadn’t before is bc of the above spot on comment about the jarring entry into round&round which I always thought was a tragic segue for a tune as beautiful as Stella. Never liked R&R anyway but especially resented launching into it on the heels of SB. Nevertheless this is a fine upvote worthy version. Just make sure to fade out before the buzz kill
Franklin's Tower
March 13, 1982
Reno Centennial Coliseum

and he nails all the lyrics! (Brent does some nice piano flourishes, too. Fast but tight--fine version)
Dark Star
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

I should stop being amazed, stunned even, when I stumble upon a version of a song I thought I had covered in every era it appeared, but here I am so glad to have checked out this Dark Star based on all the great recs from above. Don't know how this had escaped my purview til now but so what, because hearing the Jerry break-out right after the first verse & hearing him carry it seamlessly into a mellower rhythm jam and some light lovely space, then back into the swirling corkscrew notes section that mark so many of the best '69 Dark Stars- for the first time -is a crazy good trip.
Wang Dang Doodle
April 7, 1991
Orlando Arena

No way this version should be languishing. C'mon & give it a listen, it brings the goods.
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