headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24555


Submissions

43
Althea
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Perfect groove and massive push from Phil post-lyrics
43
Estimated Prophet
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

From the famous "ravenspace" show; the only version in which the main theme is reprised+lots of Bob yelling
64
Ship of Fools
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

Perfection. The "comes a time" for this show gets all the attention but this SOF is just as grand
64
Uncle John's Band
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Part of a 2nd set for the ages; flows in & out of PITB teases & then reprises into killer Dew
20
Terrapin Station
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

Hold on tight!

Comments

Shakedown Street
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

So psyched to find versions like this: Mellow but funky, & smooth as melted butter. Gets better every time I hear it. Love Garcia's take-your-time riffs in the jam section leading into a stick-the-landing finish. Brent fills are juicy and Bobby misses not a beat, Phil fans will love some of his chunk-a-dunks as well. Let's get this into double digits at the very least, please. It's more than worthy.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 30, 1973
Boston Music Hall

Masterpiece version I've come to appreciate more listening to the Matrix available instead of DP14. The matrix starts out a bit rough but once yours ears adjust the jamming in the meat of this HCS really comes alive, especially what Jerry does in slowing it down after the little drum break. It's astonishingly patient and beautiful guitar work, stretching the outer contours of the jam cycle and eventually charging headlong into a rhythmic event of seismic full band participation before Jerry sings the final verse. What a spectacular rendition. 2nd only to my ears to 2/23/74.
Not Fade Away
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Hey Ragnaroar.....for a super great funky, totally different-sounding early Brent NFA check out 11/2/79....maybe the most underrated NFA ever.
Not Fade Away
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Love the space/funk intro into this...Brent gave this song totally new life in the early 80s before it turned into a waste of time crowd-clapping throwaway in the latter part of the decade and into the 90s...this is when the song still had some FUNK to it. Nice pick. There's also (believe it or not) a super-swinging and excellent "Don't Ease Me In" from this show.
Not Fade Away
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

I finally "get" this version, helped by the new box set cleaned up recording, but also b/c I see now that it's more of a patient rendition, with Jerry playing the long game rather than going for the quick KO blow. My favorite is still the breaking through the gates of hell version from 12/29/77 which is all power and fury, but this one rewards for its long, flowing jam presence. If you want to take a long sweet float down the NFA river, this is the raft you want to be on. +1