headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
show more submissions

Comments

Ship of Fools
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

For me, 5/9/77 is and always will be best ever, but dang if this one isn't nipping on its heels. Sung so beautifully by Jerry from what I'm starting to think now is THE best show of 1974. Everything is just so spot-on, and this version of Ship contains a brief but note-perfect Jerry solo and some delicate Keith organ fills that make it a tad different than other versions. Spectacular.
Uncle John's Band
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Absolutely, NoNoYolker....this show is flooring me top to bottom. What a great UJB. Maybe take a 1/4 point off for the warbly vocals, but that's true of any '74 version. Still, the instrumental sections are gold and it's as sweet as it gets for a self-contained version that doesn't flow into anything else. In fact, in that category, it's hands down #1.
Black Throated Wind
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Really strong version with a bit of a peppier tempo than most and more emotionally charged, especially toward the end. Bobby commits and delivers.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

@merryjerry Turns out they did have the complete IKYR in the vault so now this incredible version can be heard in all its glory and it truly is spectacular--not just because it melts into being from a crazy Dark Star....you can actually hear an "almost" moment where it sounds like they're about to head into the MLB/Feelin'Groovy jams that they would begin playing in '73 and carry throughout '74, but instead they just jam some more and intensify what they're already doing before heading flawlessly into Rider. This is easily making my Top 10 all time China>Rider list. Up it!
Viola Lee Blues
Nov. 10, 1967
Shrine Auditorium

Maybe a new number 1 for me. Shorter than some of the marathon versions in '68 but more focused for it, tighter all around, but losing none of the furious jamming of those big '68's. Sung really well by all, too.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)