headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
4
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!
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!
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Comments

Ramble On Rose
March 23, 1972
Academy of Music

Phil's deep rhythmic opening bass salvo, as thick and solid and propulsive as you'll ever hear on a ROR was enuff for my upvote, and the rest is pretty dang hot too. Easy plus one.
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 13, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Crazy good fuzz guitar faster paced kick ass version getting very little traction & undeservedly so. Check it out. Whole show is somehow under the sonar.
Candyman
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Not sure if Jerry & Donna ever sounded better together than they do on this version of Candyman, and Garcia's solos are at once delicate & deep, ---about as perfect a version as you'll find in any era and I'd have no problem seeing this in top 3-5 ranking...just spectacular.
The Other One
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

Folks tend to skip versions from '77 b/c they tend to be shorter & less "epic" than earlier years but it would be a mistake to pass this one by. The rhythm devils in particular bring this one into focus beautifully with a grand lead up to Phil's signature roaring bass intro and it's Jerry off to the races after that. Really fine version from a show better known for its other big tunes like an all-time Sugaree in the first set, but again, this is a real sleeper Other One
Greatest Story Ever Told
Nov. 4, 1979
Civic Center

Not like all the others--a distinctively different start out of the gate that features the mid-jam stop-jump-start-again riff, then takes off like a bat outta heck w/Bobby just chawin' thru the lyrics like he means it. Segues out from a pretty sweet Getaway, too...worth the ups, folks!
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