headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
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Comments

Pretty Peggy O
April 14, 1978
Cassell Coliseum - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

The solo on this one is just transcending, and a little bit longer than most. Instead of Jerry returning to the verse after the "high point" conclusion of his solo, he re-enters the gentle main theme for a bit, letting everyone settle down, before continuing on to the final 3 verses. Just extraordinary stuff.
Bertha
June 7, 1977
Winterland Arena

Needs to move up! Everything you want from a Bertha, and a perfect way to start a classic show
Jack Straw
Oct. 10, 1980
Warfield Theater

I don't care where this one ends up but it can't stay here (4 votes with mine just added.) This is a rip roaring version that builds to several peaks before the final Wichita verse comes crashing down. I know this show gets all its attention for the acoustic set but if you ignore this A+ electric JS it's truly your loss. I recommend the Matrix available... best sound around for a show with few high quality sound options. UP IT!
Dark Star
Jan. 17, 1969
Civic Auditorium

Yes! My favorite kind of Dark Star...more music, less dissonance. To each his own, but these more music-oriented '69 versions are my go-to's. (10/25/69 still my #1 fave,)
Terrapin Station
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Great show & version indeed. Should be higher. 1/22/78 gets most of the attention from this year but this one's along the same lines.
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