headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

29
Candyman
Dec. 15, 1986
Oakland Coliseum Arena

Must hear b/c it's Jerry's first show back after the coma...crowd goes INSANE on "won't you tell everybody you meet that the Candyman's in town!"
14
Walking the Dog
April 8, 1985
The Spectrum

Midnite Hour>WTD>Big Boss Man to open the show-Wow!; Walkin' worth it just to hear Jerry sustain the vocal on "Pretty maids all in a Roooooooowww!"
9
I Need A Miracle
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Flawless deliver by Weir followed by extended, bluesy, gritty Garcia jam
80
Greatest Story Ever Told
Sept. 28, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Greatest STEPHEN ever Told. Jerry rips into a "St.Stephen" jam in the bridge jam before the reprise. 2d only to 8/27
37
Dark Star
Oct. 25, 1969
Winterland Arena

For those who don't care for the feedback/chase dog from the room DS's...this one is jazzy, jammy, rockin', & beautiful. No distortion; none needed
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Comments

Franklin's Tower
Aug. 3, 1982
Starlight Theatre

Extra Zip and Pep to this really outstanding early 80's version, with Jer nailing the lyrics and a hard charging flurry of great rollicking thunder...extra point for the smack-you-in-the-face-outta-nowhere transition from Half-Step. Deserves some serious up-votage, and as many early 80's fans will attest, this whole show is one of the greats of that era.
Althea
May 7, 1980
Barton Hall - Cornell University

This is a spectacular version flawlessly delivered vocally by Jerry and with just a rumbling, ascending flurry of jamming post-lyrics that needs to be listened to w/more ears and hoisted up the rankings here. Crystal clear sound quality via Road Trips release, more than worth the investment. *I mis-reviewed this version under 5/6/80 thinking it was from the same release but the Penn State show, but I think this is the version I meant to review.
Stella Blue
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

Mellow and delicate version and Donna absent, which is a very good thing for this tune. Not trying to hate on Donna at all, and I appreciate her presence on tunes like TMNS, but this song is much better without her going off key on the "shine" chorus. In fact, here, there's no call-back to it at all, just Jerry's guitar, and it works beautifully.
Here Comes Sunshine
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

Update: there's a newly uploaded CM version of this show and this tune with the buzz kill tape patch at the end FIXED! Making this stellar version just exactly perfect, Worth heading over to the archive to find. Still have 2/23/74 as my #1 title holder but this is hard on its heels at #2.
Candyman
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Sounds better than ever on DaP 13. Outstanding version that has the aforementioned crazy good Jerry solo, a much longer one than we usually get from this era, and it's note perfect. All around winner version.
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