headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

52
Dark Star
Dec. 31, 1978
Winterland Arena

Farewell to Winterland; Not 40 mins. long ; no break down into feedback nonsense. Just sweet jazzy jamming; Just exactly perfect send off.
10
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Transition jam weaves into spaces most fail to go; touch-down into Fire is GOLD. Jerry flubs first line in Fire-after that: 1 of the BEST ever!
19
He's Gone
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Perfect, self-contained, blues-infused, stellar vocals, 14+ minutes of bliss. Extra fun: Check out the "Birdsong" riff about 10 secs. into the intro
36
Dark Star
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

Amazed this isn't here yet Gorgeous, melodic, jazz-infused, mellow, trippy, spacey into hard ripping Jerry riffs; melts into Brokedown Palace. Sublime
48
Cold Rain and Snow
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Kicks off with authority a 2d set every DeadHead needs to hear. Perfect bookend to Jerry's scorching Dew. They say it was cold&rainy that nite in ME.

Comments

Shakedown Street
April 26, 1983
The Spectrum

When this site is working its best magic, it's pointing me to versions of songs like this, that were totally off my radar, far down the list, yet worthy of being so much higher. This whole shows is just chock full of A+ material and this Shakedown is probably head of the class. Confident even in Jerry's vocal delivery (mostly, it is early 80s after all), but chiefly it's the fierce funk of the faster tempo but un-sloppy delivery and the massive dig down dirty jamming post-lyrics that makes this a best of 80s candidate. Also check out the stellar Help>Slip>Franklin's. Women R Smarter, and much more. Excellent recommendations/comments by all. +1 easy.
He's Gone
April 17, 1972
Tivolis Koncertsal

Almost like a different tune it's so high energy. Jerry digs in with great leads. Missing the "goin' where the wind don't blow so strange" bridge that would be added later.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
April 29, 1977
The Palladium

One of those shows that screams for a clean SBD. Suffers not from performance but from available sound quality.
Big River
May 16, 1972
Theatre Hall

why am i not seeing this song listed on any of the archive versions of this show?
Playin' In The Band
April 2, 1973
Boston Garden

^^^^ It happens sometimes, brother, it happens ;-) Sticking by my two cents on this one, though...love what it does.