headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals

Comments

Shakedown Street
Nov. 23, 1978
Capital Centre

Love these early ones even if they meander a bit at the end. The slinky funk as you say is undeniable and they have their own special charm even if they're not as a complete package polished as later versions.
Truckin'
Sept. 2, 1979
Augusta Civic Center

Klaussmith has submitted exhibit A for why you need to check out many of the unheralded "lower ranked versions" to find some pure gems. Yes, Bobby struggled with the lyrics in spots (file under: "wow. really? is the sun coming up in the morning as well?") , but this version is SO GOOD it should rank only half a point off, with the rest more than making up for it in degree of difficulty, What's funny tho' is that in Bob's first brain freeze the rest of the band actually plows ahead with the correct lyrics even as he sings the wrong ones and by the end of the verse he actually gets put back on the right track and finishes with the proper words! It's better than the awkward silences or mumblings that usually accompany his missed lyrics. Later in the tune he screws up more blatantly but I've spent too much time on this already b/c it truly doesn't matter. Post-lyrics the band hits 2 peaks--one, the traditional wind up/splash down that Garcia nails perfectly followed immediately by another that is different yet equally as dramatic. It's simply awesome,,,and then that flows seamlessly into a "Nobody's Fault" jam that's brief but beautiful and rounds out a seriously great version. It's not to the level of 11/6/77, mind you, but it's not far off either. Honestly, give this one a try and see if you're not immediately inclined to hike it up on the list.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
July 18, 1990
Deer Creek Music Theater

can't say best ever, but this was way way WAY better than I expected. Had almost given up on just about any version post '77...this is really great, though. Thanks for all who touted its merits.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
Oct. 28, 1977
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

...and sadly languishing near the bottom of the list. C'mon, people. This is a blazing version that needs to be hovering near all the big boys. It shouldn't be treated this old way.
Deal
April 11, 1972
Newcastle City Hall

It's almost like a different song from those 80's versions that feature the rippin long jams at the end or even the '77s that give you that sweet rolling jam in the middle, These early versions are slinky and bluesy and awesome in their own right, This one features a really in the groove slow Jerry jam that just flows back into the rest of the tune. E'72 really was beyond the pale and this is my favorite "Deal" of the tour.