headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

37
Dark Star
Oct. 25, 1969
Winterland Arena

For those who don't care for the feedback/chase dog from the room DS's...this one is jazzy, jammy, rockin', & beautiful. No distortion; none needed
19
Satisfaction
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Weir: "We know we aint gonna get no satisfaction but we're gonna give it a try...You can scream& twist & beg & cry!"
71
Let It Grow
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Lightning quick yet totally on-track riffs from Jerry; intense, powerful version. Weir 100% into it. Segues into killer Deal. Trust me. Must hear.
51
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 10, 1982
Frost Amphitheatre

Perfect wind up, pitch & strike down the middle. I've yet to hear a better one, though I'll try some of the recs here. Til then.....
29
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

From one of the greatest shows ever, a bring the house down killer. Keith w/perfect piano exc. point!

Comments

Big River
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Good, solid version and an underrated year for this song, although every version this year was a dress rehearsal for '77, peaking with 5/9/77
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Dude420 has this right...I've yet to hear a '77 version that has as much in common with a classic, mellow, flowing 1973 as this one does. It's most evident in the sweet sweet intro. The whole version has that liquidy feel of the debut year for this song. The instrumental break before the last verse has the closest thing to a hard jam you'll hear and it's pretty hot but overall this is not a version that tears things up, rather it's just a gorgeous and musically confident journey that ends with a solo Phil romp and deserves some more love. While I do feel this show is a bit overrated overall (the Terrapin especially, a travesty that it's listed as best ever), this EYES does not disappoint.
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
July 12, 1989
RFK Stadium

Superior jam between verses. Hornsby as noted is a great addition but Brent is spectacular too and Jerry goes way past midi to get after the true guitar grit in his soloing. Easily a top 3 version all time.
Uncle John's Band
Aug. 26, 1971
Gaelic Park

Five now. This is outstanding, surprisingly so for an early incarnation. Great confident in control outro jam. Up it.
Not Fade Away
July 4, 1989
Rich Stadium

^^^^ 100% true. NFA became a garbage late 2nd set throwaway in the late 80s with little jamming replaced by gimmicky hand clapping, crowd chanting and "Mmm-bop" repetition. This one has about 28 votes too many.