headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
show more submissions

Comments

Truckin'
May 19, 1974
Portland Memorial Coliseum

I still like 6/20/74 a shade better but really the difference is negligible. This is a triumph at every level.
Althea
Aug. 13, 1979
McNichols Arena

Got to be the weirdest version I've heard....and it's very good. Jerry doesn't so much forget the lyrics as he forgets how they're sung in relation to the music. I'm not explaining it well. You'll just have to listen and you'll see what I mean. In any event the jams are top notch and it's got that thick, deep '79 sound. +1
Deal
May 29, 1971
Winterland Arena

Slow, slinky, and sensational. You won't hear a version with Jerry in better vocal form than this one. Of course there's no shredder ending like the song added in the 80s but with these eras it's almost like a totally different song anyway and there's a damn fine blues solo by Garcia in this one so there's something for everyone here. For a great fledgling rendition it's hard to beat this gem.
Brokedown Palace
Nov. 15, 1972
Oklahoma City Music Hall

Very few really truly good live versions of this tune, but this is certainly one of them. .
Cold Rain and Snow
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

I'll add that this whole show is underrated. Spectacular Terrapin and my favorite Iko of all time. This Cold Rain is a confident rocker and as stated above Jerry's raggedy vocals actually work really well to strengthen the overall presentation.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)