headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.
6
The Other One
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Short but raging. Look beyond the length & enjoy for the fire within. Jerry attacks this from the get-go & it's awesome.
2
Truckin'
Dec. 12, 1993
San Diego Sports Arena

Anybody else hear a very distinctive riff of Steely Dan's "Black Friday" in the intro?
5
Sugar Magnolia
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Just listen & you will believe. End jam before SSDD is a tidal wave of sound & power & beauty. A true must hear.
7
Darkness Jam
June 6, 1970
Fillmore West

Just one jam theme among many. this should be called "Kitchen Sink" jam. Has so much & all so good

Comments

Big River
Sept. 17, 1972
Baltimore Civic Center

A perfect, compact, not-a-note wasted ripping version. Keith and Jerry both tear it up, while Bob, Phil and Mickey keep the rhythm charging along. Pull out the DP version or archive-listen, but either way give this one so more well deserved love.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 14, 1974
Olympiahalle

Nicely jammed '74 that stands out mostly because it segues into One More Saturday Night.
Promised Land
Aug. 27, 1972
Old Renaissance Faire Grounds

I have my issues with Donnie's at times overly critical grousing about certain versions and his subsequent questioning of people's Deadhead credentials as a result, but on this one I'm firmly in his corner and NOT just because I nominated the version he's backing. I'm at a total loss as to how anyone can seriously and objectively hear the 4 minute Veneta version...which sounds nearly identical to just about any other 4 minute version from '72 that's out there...and then listen to the jammed out, high octane, all-in completely barn burner version from 9/18/90 with the extra factor of Hornsby bringing color and flash and flourish to the whole damn thing, and not conclude that MSG is the superior version. Sorry, folks, but Donnie's straight up right on this one. Promised land from Veneta is good, it's nice, it's Veneta after all. But it's just like every other '72, which is to say, by the numbers, predictable, and with far less to offer than the show stopper that is 9/18/90.
Casey Jones
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

One of those "just assumed it was already there" versions. Yes, a winnner, as this tune was still in its fresh live stages and from one of the great shows of all time it's a can't miss.
It Must Have Been The Roses
May 4, 1977
The Palladium

They just don't make em like this anymore. And btw this whole show is every bit as good as all the A list of dates that come after and overshadow it...unfairly, really.