headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Playin' In The Band
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

and a killer reprise as well. Time I added my vote to this one. Could do so w/virtually every song they played this night,
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 26, 1974
Providence Civic Center

Hey Dude420 I'm gonna do the same with a lot of the DP chart toppers here. I used to just take it in face value that an official release would have to be best sounding but sometimes that's not the case at all and a good matrix recording delivers a better punch and puts certain songs in a much better light. I like almost all the choices for those DP releases but I think some sound a little flat at times esp. vol. 1 and even vol. 3 which are both great shows.
Bertha
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

^^^^This one is very good but if you haven't yet, try 10-29-77. Jerry's mid jam solo winds up for an extra go around and takes you places that'll blow your senses.
The Music Never Stopped
July 3, 1978
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

Merryjerry has it right. Box set highlights these very underrated shows (except for 7/8/78 which gets all the attention) and this version is just one example of a song that deserves a higher ranking along with the show itself.
Here Comes Sunshine
April 2, 1973
Boston Garden

I'll go against the grain here and say I really don't care for the space noodling attached to this otherwise fine version. The HCS itself is quite grand but the long section following gets tedious to these ears pretty quick, and the only really good thing about it is the transition into Bobby McGee which is beautiful. No upvote here, though, as there are many other versions from this era that hold up just as well and don't drift aimlessly around before getting to something more interesting. I'd rather hear a good self contained HCS, I suppose, and there are many to choose from.
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