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
Row Jimmy
Jan. 1, 1965
Rich Stadium
I'm also concerned about this site inevitably listing every version of every song as potentially "heady." I'm not blaming any one poster for that but can we not all agree that once every version or nearly every version of a tune is nominated the whole point of this site--featuring only the BEST versions--of a particular tune, becomes meaningless? The idea is to (i believe) be as objectively critical as you can when nominating a version--explain WHY it's especially good--so that the rest of us don't feel like we're wasting our time giving it a listen. And if you're putting up a version of "Scarlet" where Jerry forgets half the lyrics and mumbles thru the rest and his voice sounds like sandpaper cut up in a blender then you should at least have the decency to point that out in your review (yes even w/the 150 ch. limit.) I get how passionate we all are about this band, but they played over 2,000 concerts and hundreds of versions of many songs. Lots were heady and, guess what--many many many were not.
Crazy Fingers
June 9, 1991
Buckeye Lake Music Center
Freedom...based on your rec gave it a try and was pleasently surprised...'91 is about as far as I'll go these days (w/some cgarces recs for a very few '94 tunes sometimes making it to upvote territory) but Jer's voice actually holds up here and there's a nice flow to this one...it won't rival any of the stellar '76 versions but is better than many cringe worthy 80s versions and is on par w/some of the nice early spring '90 versions, which I was convinced til now was the cut off. Thanks for pointing this out.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 13, 1983
Patrick Gymnasium, U of Vermont
The Hunter-Seamons Matrix of this is a revelation...best source i've heard yet and vaults this version way higher as a result. This is a spectacular reading of both tunes with an unbelievable transition. lots of Fire teases before launching into the tune, and a scorched earth riptide of a fire thereafter. 5 votes? Ridiculous.
Wharf Rat
April 22, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Like it, don't love it. I think I was expecting something more given all the hype surrounding the pre-release of DaP 15...it's undeniably good but when I compare the main Jerry jam sections in this one with 10/7/77 I'm underwhelmed. Perhaps an unfair comparison but this one doesn't hit those heights or dig as emotionally deep.
Estimated Prophet
April 22, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
A tune that did get better in subsequent versions post-'77 (altho' there are some great ones in '77--see 10/29), peaking IMHO, in 1982. This one's worthy of upvote for that longer jam section and a wild flurry a la Jerry.
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hot songs
Dark Star
Playin' In The Band
Eyes Of The World
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
new submissions
Sugaree, Autzen Stadium, June 18, 1994
When I Paint My Masterpiece, Crisler Arena, April 6, 1989
Mama Tried, Crisler Arena, April 6, 1989
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