headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

What is this doing in the single digits of vote counting? Look, I get that 1974 is filled with oodles of awesome EYES. I get it. But even by '74 standards this one deserves to be up there with the best of them, at the very least in terms of flow and glide and ease of the jamming. Just listen to the intro alone on this one. It's a stream on consciousness river of ideas, but smooth like silk all at once. The whole version just glides along on wings and when it shifts to the outro material it's laser sharp on all the turns, stops and starts. They played 2 pretty amazing shows at this venue--this one and 6/22/73. This EYES is one of the highlights of the former.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Upvoted for all the reasons listed already but also for the superior vocals. Everyone's in tune, and it's sung with gusto by Jerry. Crystal clear, and of course the jamming is spectacular.
Box of Rain
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

One of the better live versions done. Phil doesn't try to over-sing and neither does Donna. They nail all the verses and it's a tight little ditty that still retains the loveliness of the tune.
Spanish Jam
Aug. 28, 1981
Long Beach Arena

Gritty dig-deep fuzz-guitar Garcia magic.
Bertha
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

Underrated for sure. There's a Glassberg MOTB recording on the archive that's pretty great for an AUD and there's no reason for a May '77 Bertha to be as overlooked as this one has. Mellow but with flowing Jerry-led jams. Excellent version.
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