headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
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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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