headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

33
Little Red Rooster
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

All about Brent.
2
Drums
June 4, 1978
Campus Stadium - University Of California

Part of a very hardcore rock and roll 2nd set. HEAVY wailing Drums>Space>NFA w/motorcycle revs.
8
Beat it on Down The Line
May 16, 1972
Theatre Hall

Another Europe '72 tour winner. Bobby sez "Rock on out" for the bridge jam and Jerry obliges.
25
Ramble On Rose
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

Just discovered this one, available on archive as outtakes that didn't make the DP release. Simply put, it kicks ass.
8
Doin' That Rag
June 14, 1969
Monterey Performing Arts Center

Always a tough tune for the band to pull off but here they do it with authority. Jerry nails the vocals w/gusto!
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Comments

Estimated Prophet
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

This is a great version but in defense of '77 I must point out that the soloing and especially outro jams on Estimated started to get stretched out on the fall tour. 10/29/77 offers a pretty good example.
The Wheel
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

100% agree. Perfect show that only seems to get props for the joyous weirdness of the space but really virtually every song is tour de force, this Wheel no exception. My favorite Estimated and Brokedown are from this show as well.
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 20, 1974
Winterland Arena

I actually prefer this one to the more sought-after 1/2 hour version from earlier in this Winterland run (on 10/16). This is a trippy yet still jazzy exploration into mellow/gooey territory, while the whole band attacks the vocal sections with gusto and precision. The sandwich middle is tasty too and there's a long, flowing rejoinder heading into the eventual reprise, This needs a little hike up the vote ladder.
Dire Wolf
Nov. 6, 1977
Broome County Arena

So easy to overlook good versions of this song b/c it's so short and --for a Dead tune-- fairly uniform. But the standouts deserve attention and this is one of them from a monster show of the '77 fall tour.
Stella Blue
Oct. 17, 1974
Winterland Arena

I also love this one because nobody (i.e. Donna) ruins the "shine" chorus after Jerry dusts off those rusty strings just one more time. In fact, no one repeats the "shine" line and it's so much better for the omission. Instead it's all about the beauty of the tune and Jer's magnificent solo to follow. Too many pre-Brent versions (even in the golden year of '77) were marred by the off-key back up chorus, but not this one. I didn't mind in the 80's when Brent joined in, because his voice was perfect for the back-up, but this is one where the tune breathes and succeeds from a "less is more" approach.
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