headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

3
Row Jimmy
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Great cadence to this one and some cool reverb effects lend a trippy mesmerizing feel to this fine entry from the Fox. Get the CM SBD source.
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
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

I have to agree with Summerraven that while the beginning segments of this version are lovely and flowing and as pretty as any the band has ever performed the outro material really drags and it's understandable, given that this song is barely on its feet live at this point. I'm OK with it being a top 15-20 version but not in the top 10 for that reason.
Wharf Rat
April 22, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium

A few more spins via the DaP release has made me a believer. Well sung by Jerry but also the band as a whole is punctuating all the right benchmarks, hitting a heavy flourish after a particular line and dialing back when needed just so. There's also a run of notes Jerry plays in one of the big jam sections about 8 minutes in that's unique to any version I've heard. Definitely deserves its high ranking here. In other words, I've changed my tune on this version.
Aiko Aiko
April 16, 1978
Huntington Civic Center

Top 3 version. Reggae-ish, nice tempo between fast and slow.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Dec. 31, 1977
Winterland Arena

Right on both counts...that is unmistakably Close Encounters in the tuning and this is a great version.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 22, 1972
Austin Municipal Auditorium

^^^^ Thanks. let us know! Cut seems very minor, right at the end, but still....
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