headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Brown Eyed Women
Sept. 6, 1979
Madison Square Garden

Give it up for a super-fine '79. Jerry goes a few extra rounds in the bridge jam, sings like he's buying a round for the bar & nails the landing for Delilah Jones...nice under the radar version here worthy of some love.
Dark Star
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Slow jazz beginning section, Phil driving everything up til first verse...minimal dissonance, mostly lovely spacey passages to follow...some early proto-type feeling groovy jamming and all sorts of interesting stuff leading into second verse and then a sweet segue into Bobby McGee. Great undervalued gem here...whole show has that vibe. I'm not usually too crazy about '71 but this show goes against that grain.
Deal
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Maybe the best early version there is with a surprisingly lengthy first Garcia solo followed by a totally unexpected second break in between the final two verses, plus the whole thing is done at a relaxed, groovy, bluesy pace and A+ vocals from Jerry. As stated the Miller source is the one to get, it is crystal clear. There's always a place for the rip roaring end coda versions of the 80s but these early ones with their less hurried pacing are awesome in their own way. Easy up here (and a great Dark Star from this same show)
Eyes Of The World
Dec. 18, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

^^^^Summeraven has this just right about this being a compact version that sticks every landing. It's got the usual '73 flow and jazz chops in the jam sections and an absolutely rip snorting Phil-led outro jam, but if it stands out beyond the broken string interlude (and it does) it's because not a note is wasted and it makes for a unique entry into the great pantheon of '73 versions. I do know it should be at least in the 20s vote-wise.& as of this review it's at just a dozen.
I Need A Miracle
Dec. 31, 1978
Winterland Arena

Yep, after rediscovering an all time Ramble I met up again with this picture perfect miracle and the harmonica sounds like it was always meant to be there. I never took the Darkstar>OtherOne>DS>WharfRat>Stephen out of rotation but the other tunes at this five star show need more love.
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