headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23534


Submissions

19
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 11, 1989
Meadowlands Arena

Bob's lyric phrasing on this version is unique. He sings it in a way so different than any I've heard before & it's inventive & super-fun. Must hear!
7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.

Comments

I Know You Rider
May 1, 1970
Alfred College

"I'd rather drink muddy water...sleep in a hollow log..." Jerry just crushes this version vocally. So nice to have a slower, acoustic, true blue blues version to dip into. This is my fave, even a notch better than Harpur.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 3, 1979
Uptown Theatre

Garcia gets the "scarlet begonias tucked into her shoes" in this one, but it sounds perfectly natural. Really nice, relaxed cadence to this one--not too fast & not too slow--to steal a different line to make a point. The transition is patient, not especially earth shattering, but the Fire gets aggressive in a number of spots. It's also interesting as one of the earlier Brent versions & I upvoted partly for that reason. Wouldn't mind seeing it get into double digits, but wouldn't complain too loudly if it stayed a sleeper pick, either.
It Must Have Been The Roses
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

Agree on both counts ^^^^
Estimated Prophet
March 30, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Better recording of this one would have it near the top. Insane ripping middle jam as Jerry was prone to this year, this song. 1980 Estimateds are overlooked and this one especially.
Dark Star
June 24, 1973
Memorial Coliseum

I used some music editing software to remove the last ten minutes of crap and now this version is perfect. +1 with an admittedly big asterisk.