headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

9
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
2
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 4, 1982
Kiel Auditorium

Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.

Comments

Playin' In The Band
May 1, 1977
The Palladium

Dreamy version, patient and floaty, like many from '77--great launching pad for the rest of the excellent set & the reprise is a thing of beauty too
St. Stephen
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Not a bad rendition if a bit on the mellow side for a Stephen...very good flow & groove
Black Throated Wind
Sept. 21, 1972
The Spectrum

Just a beautifully played rendition...lots of commitment to lyrics by Bobby & a confident read all around.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Aug. 12, 1981
Salt Palace

'81 and '82 are underrepresented for great S>F's, I'm guessing b/c there aren't many high quality SBDs in this time period but there's a pretty good one here and as others have noted this is a version whose vote total really could be a heckuvalot higher. Super breezy tempo on the Scarlet but the band's in total control--no slop--the transition is typical for the year in being long & intricate & full of color & the Fire just rips.
Eyes Of The World
March 19, 1990
Civic Center

Tell ya who really shines in this super underrated 90s gumdrop is the rhythm devils who keep the faster pace beautifully and roll the rock along for a very nice rendition that also features strong vocals from Jerry and some tasty guitar licks unencumbered for the most part by midi distractions. Really enjoyed a recent revisit to this one and glad to upvote it