headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

7
Big River
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Segues perfectly out of MAMU and rolls along beautifully til Jerry goes ballistic on the last solo. Must hear.
5
China Cat Sunflower
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Nice early stand alone with a long intro. You can hear the transition from the old intro to the more familiar pickings of later versions.
5
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Not really a darkness jam but more of a dark star jam than what it's listed as (PITB) leads into Wharf Rat & is beyond beautiful.
8
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

The boys really "throw a mess" on this one, making the carrier dome sound like a down and dirty old time saloon. Slinky sick stuff
2
Row Jimmy
April 18, 1987
Irvine Meadows

Check out Jerry's "giddy-up" riffs in the final "Row" choruses!
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Comments

Loser
June 21, 1980
West High Auditorium

Find the Miller SBD and check this one out. The only other 80s version that comes close is Ventura '84 in terms of intensity of bridge jam and bluesy Garcia vocals. Silly for this version to be anywhere under 10 votes.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 1, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Finding out that this show is so much richer in content than just the longest-ever Scarlet>Fire it's known for. This Playin' is a great sleeper pick...great rhythm devils work and a long, gooey space exploration. +1
Jack Straw
Nov. 1, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Simply a victim of too many other great versions to choose from, but tune in to this one and you'll feel compelled to get it higher on the ladder. Great '79 stuff start to finish.
Row Jimmy
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Whatever the reason, I would drop this firmly into a category called Greatest Garcia Solos Ever, slap a Top 3 onto it, and not look back. It's beyond belief beautiful.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 7, 1984
Silva Hall, Hult Center

No, Bobby, they're going to hear ONE MORE TIME how much I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train. -Jerry
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