headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Books and Music

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Submissions

13
Gloria
Oct. 16, 1981
Melkweg

Bobby's birthday at the world famous Melkeweg. Yummy brownies make this version extra special.
52
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 17, 1972
Baltimore Civic Center

DP #23 from Baltimore...yet another jazz exploration that winds and weaves and delights. More introspective than intense & quite worthy!
14
Scarlet Begonias
Aug. 4, 1976
Roosevelt Stadium

Fantastic 15+ minutes of standa-lone Scarlet featuring a very Phil-front bass section post-lyrics. Final jam section gets real jazzy, too.
2
Terrapin Station
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

From a hot steamy night in Texas an equally hot & steamy Terrapin, which melts into a great Estimated
6
Eyes Of The World
June 25, 1978
Autzen Stadium, U. of Oregon

Hidden gem! Jazzy mellow intro to fluid, energetic Garcia-led jamming. Cross-up on 'beaches & seasons" in 1st verse chorus- Phil yells "Get it right!"
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Comments

Here Comes Sunshine
Dec. 19, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

I'd also make the case for 2/15/73 over this one, although I couldn't call this one "bad." But it certainly is NOT anywhere near as good as 2/23/74, which I stand by as the greatest ever. The DP audio quality for this show is not great, either, which i think hurts it a bit as well...but there are better versions sound issues notwithstanding.
Terrapin Station
Sept. 2, 1979
Augusta Civic Center

Kinder and gentler yes, but also brilliant. Jerry sings this perhaps better than any Terrapin in history. The mid-jam section is gorgeous and flowing and beautiful and the choruses into "Terrapin" feature perfect backing harmonies from Brent and Bobby. There is an incredible SBD copy of this show that highlights everything great about this version AND if that wasn't enough it actually goes into an amazing Let It Grow, which is a real rarity. This version deserves to be catapulted into top range territory, I kid you not. Please give it a listen and boost it up the ladder here. It's already in my personal Top 10 all time, it's THAT good.
Wharf Rat
Feb. 18, 1971
Capitol Theater

This one and the first Terrapin from 2/26/77 are both where they are based on the novelty of being first. If you heard this version of Wharf Rat having no knowledge of its date of origin you couldn't possibly put it in a top 10 category, much less #1. As cgarces points out, you can pick a random Rat from virtually any 1977 show and have it blow the doors off this version. (Try 10/7/77 just for kicks.)
Ship of Fools
July 16, 1990
Rich Stadium

Really impressed with this. While it won't do anything to displace my fave all time of 5/9/77 it is worthy of a top 5 version candidate and hands down best of the 90's. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. This is also exhibit A for why there are certain songs only Jerry could pull of vocally, no offense to the fine efforts in these last Santa Clara/Chicago shows of 2015. But like Morning Dew, Ship of Fools NEEDS Jerry's voice to be Ship of Fools, and he's in fine form here.
Dark Star
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

There's a very pretty section here at around the 15, 16-minute mark that is unlike any other version I've heard. Reminds me a little of Earl Klugh doing "So Many Stars"...it's quiet and lovely and not at all dissonant...just before they launch into the verse. This whole version is on the mellow side and I really like it for that. It doesn't reach any major peaks or rev into any known themes such as Tighten Up Jam but in its own elegant way, this Dark Star stands out and gets my upvote.
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