headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.

Comments

Let It Grow
Sept. 11, 1982
West Palm Beach Auditorium

Must agree, especially that this show is seriously under-appreciated. This LIG has that '81-'82 magic to it. Check it and then go right to the Scarlet>Fire. You won't be disappointed.
Deal
July 19, 1989
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Deserthead is spot on. We don't need to be lectured on the qualities of JGB. And yes, those bands played fine Deals. Some may be "better" than some Dead versions, others are not. And I'll put up the Deal from 5/1/81 against any JGB version ever with no doubts of its superiority. I'm sure there are many others here who have their own favorites for which they'd do the same. This Alpine version is indisputably Heady, regardless of whether there may be a JGB version that can top it. You want to tout the qualities of JGB Deals, Donnie, go right ahead. But the declaration that these top Dead versions on the board here are somehow lacking, even in comparison, is just plain ignorant .
Casey Jones
Aug. 4, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Center

Love the slow, snaky cadence to this, especially for the lyrics. This song was always best when Jerry really nailed the lyrical parts and the windy groovier delivery here allows him to emphasize certain words and phrases. Ton of fun encore rendition from a great DP (31). .
It Must Have Been The Roses
Aug. 5, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Arena

Slightly faster tempo with this one does nothing to diminish the sweeping beauty of both the playing by the whole band and Garcia's terrific vocal reading. Just an excellent A+ version made even better by the fact that it emerges gorgeously from Half Step in one of the most seamless, underrated segues in Dead history, A first set bonus, if you will. Pull out yer DP 31 to hear it again or listen on archive. Either way, needs more climb on the ladder,
Bertha
March 27, 1993
Knickerbocker Arena

I do need to listen to more of this show. Will check out that Peggy O for sure.