headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

26
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Feb. 4, 1978
Milwaukee Auditorium

Can't beat this one. Played w/out a hitch, Jerry nails all the lyrics, and when it's over Phil says: "And that's a true story, folks!"
20
Eyes Of The World
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Unlike nearly every other '80's version, this one isn't all speeded out and rushed; instead it's groovy, jazzy, intricate, very pretty for its time
19
Promised Land
Nov. 11, 1973
Winterland Arena

Yep...too rocking a tune to be ignored. Hard to beat this one, especially as kick-off of trio: Promised>Bertha>GSET
46
Fire On The Mountain
July 13, 1985
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Extremely rare stand-alone "Fire"...2nd song, first set, and a real barn-burner!
4
Deal
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

Garcia's solos roll like lightning & rock like thunder. Sings it w/gusto, too. Not to be missed.
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Comments

Estimated Prophet
June 25, 1978
Autzen Stadium, U. of Oregon

Heck yeah! Fine version from a really oddly underrated 1978 winner. Check out the "Eyes" from this show as well.
Brown Eyed Women
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Nice version. Nothing wrong with it. But it's placement at number one is exhibit A as to why Barton is so overhyped. I get it. Great show. Library of Congress great. But that doesn't mean EVERY song from the show deserves to sit at the top. The number two listed here from 11/4/77 is better in every conceivable way, from Jerry's solo to the vocal delivery, yet it's 30 votes off the pace. Ridiculous. Better versions from the same damn year include 5/17/77, 5/4/77 and 3/20/77. We diminish the overall greatness of Cornell when we blindly vote too many of its songs to the top just because we see 5/8/77 attached to it.
Brown Eyed Women
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

Hands down better than Barton. But there are better versions than both all throughout this year. 5/17/77, 11/4/77 to name just two.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

Outstanding Help>Slipknot...quite possibly the best ever performed, but I agree that the Franklin's is the weak link in the chain here. I also find it a real drag that Jerry blows lyrics at critical junctures and he doesn't really make up for it in the jamming as he does in the 6/9/77 exactly a month later. It's hard for me to upvote this because the 3 songs really need to be taken as a whole. The first two sections are really that damn good, though, so I'm going to, but this complete version taken all together doesn't deserve a "best of" designation. As a whole, even a version like 10/1/94 is better.
Uncle John's Band
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

"Cruelly overlooked" for sure. Maybe with release of Get Shown the Light box set this version will climb higher but for now it's undeservedly low of the ladder. Superior vocals and harmonies all delivered beautifully. If Donna had sung this way all the time there'd never have been a single snarky comment made about her. The outro jam before the reprise vocal coda is simply top shelf, all-time territory. +1 automatic.
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