headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

31
Let It Grow
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

The most "Spanish-flavored" of LIG's, evokes old southwest almost Mariachi vibe. Brilliant Garcia changes-Rise&Fall!
25
Althea
May 6, 1980
Rec Hall, Penn State U

Recent Road Trips release is a perfecto: Outstanding vocals from Jerry and a jam after the lyrics that grooves and rocks super-hard. 5-star version!
46
Deep Elem Blues
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Jerry's voice just exactly bluesy perfect...groovy & slow acoustic cadence & the boys harmonizing sweetly on the chrouses. Outstanding early version
30
Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

A+ for the crowd alone. Are there better ones? Of course. But I was there & the ecstacy after 14 years of no Box makes this version legendary.
15
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Astonishingly strong Jerry vocals, especially given the year, and some of the prettiest Hornsby-led fills make this one a real great sleeper pick.
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Comments

Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

^^^^ Makes my heart sing to read these reviews, Dude420. I was beginning to think I was hearing something no one else was. Maybe b/c the recordings available aren't 100% perfect (not that the provided sources are bad), but I seriously and honestly have never heard a better overall version than this one and I agree that if you stack it up head to head w/Frost '82 (I show I love btw) it still blows it out of the water.
Bird Song
Aug. 22, 1972
Berkeley Community Theatre

Just digging everything from this show lately. Another '72 Birdsong gem here, this one especially notable for Jerry's beautiful vocal reading. Honestly, after listening to how he sings this song in this year it's painful for me to listen to early 80's or really any other year when his voice is so croaky and he just can't sustain the note. Sure, the jams are still there in many later versions, but these '72s have that lovely interplay with Keith and the loping pace that just makes the song really, well....soar. This one should be a lot higher.
Black Throated Wind
Aug. 22, 1972
Berkeley Community Theatre

Easily my new favorite, Just listen to Keith, who shines on this throughout, especially in the end coda section. Bobby's lyrical reading is emotional and spot-on and he's completely in lockstep with Keith on this one. Love too the wah-wah psychedelic sound thrown in during the intro. Superior version right here.
Uncle John's Band
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena

I've got to agree. I really love this site & all the discussions we have, but the one thing that grinds my gears is how low some truly awesome versions of songs are on the list despite the passionate pleas of knowing Heads to listen and bump, while other "leading" versions rack up superfluous votes one after another. This is one of the finest UJB's you'll hear from the band's most "just exactly perfect" year of playing (like it or not, '77 is inarguably the year of most consistently well-played--i.e. fewest mistakes--shows), and there's no way this should be sitting around in single digits.
Dark Star
Oct. 21, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

A lot of the stuff from this show is getting my upvote lately and this DS is the latest...just when you think it's going to tail off into dissonant space-waste time it turns on a dime into an outta nowhere Sittin On Top of the World & back into the DS theme after. Prior is 15 minutes of the new guy (Keith) showing he's more than up to the job of digging into the long form jams as he is the first set ditties. Good stuff.
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