headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

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!
45
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
28
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.
13
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.
35
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!

Comments

Eyes Of The World
March 30, 1973
Rochester Community War Memorial

Ranting & raving about this one, a hidden gem & then some. First, this might just be the most beautiful vocal they ever turned in on this tune, from Jerry’s sweet lead to the perfectly blended harmonies on the chorus sections. The playing is jazz heaven, no raging peaks a la late 70s but a flow & delicate picking clinic led by Garcia & punctuated by some of the loveliest fills I’ve ever heard Keith do on this song. The outro section features a mind-slide into the Stronger Than Dirt portion rather than the usual start on the hard beat yet they totally nail it, no clunkiness involved, it’s all meshed seamlessly. Snag the SBD 2d set on the archive & enjoy. This one’s hiding in plain sight waiting with so much to offer.
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Sept. 20, 1982
Madison Square Garden

^^^^strange indeed. Great recommendation still not getting the love it deserves.
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Sept. 20, 1982
Madison Square Garden

This is so much a better version than the single digits its mired in now. Brisk boppy bouncy groove and Jerry does a wah wah solo that's more fun than a barrel full of dancing bears not to mention him nailing down every dang lyric. What shame this is so low on the list. Maybe the box set'll help...meanwhile, get your ears on this gem.
Cold Rain and Snow
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Seriously hopeful that the new box set with its excellent sound clean up will launch this version higher up the board. It's really better than a number of the ones above it now on the list & that includes the Augusta '84 that I submitted as well (listen to these 2 back to back and tell me objectively after that MSG really belongs below Augusta--ya can't), and whether it's #1 all time worthy is subjective of course but having loved this version forever and a day and now hearing it in its best sound reproduction i'm more convinced than ever that it's in a class of its own.
Truckin'
May 13, 1978
The Spectrum

This kind of interplay between Jer and Bob rarely happens on this tune esp. post 1974....great stuff here