headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23534


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

The Music Never Stopped
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Props to your Baltimore, DS67, & props to this excellent, overlooked show. High energy MNS here & this show's also worth checking out for a searing GDTRFB and a generally high octane 2nd set.
They Love Each Other
Dec. 18, 1993
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Wow/Yes/Underrated The acoustic sound works so beautifully here. Def. makes up for Jerry's '93 vocal weaknesses. If you want an off the beaten path version of this awesome 1st set tune look no further.
Dire Wolf
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A) This is a great DW. I should have upped it earlier, B) As to the discussion about posting multiple versions of same songs, I don't mind that too much. I've long ago given up on believing that these rankings/comments are always reflecting "the best" of any one version. What I find most helpful is when some one tells me WHY this version deserves an upgrade or is better than one ahead of it. I look for descriptions and perspectives from the other heads here to parse out versions I may have otherwise overlooked.
Bird Song
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

^^^^Agreed. A perfect BirdSong year with so many gems to choose from...the challenge is to parse out the subtle differences of each and find the moments that make the individual performances stand out.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

^^^^That’s a mighty fine list. Point taken about the spacey quality on some of those Nov. ‘73 versions ... it is weird how they dropped it as you said just when it was hitting stride.
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