headyversion

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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

Loser
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

Better than I remembered it. DP 10 is Just Exactly Perfect and so is this version.
Eyes Of The World
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Agreed. Just pulled out the Dick's Picks Vol. 10 this is featured on and it's just another fine '77 version that's real sweet and jazzy. And while nothing necessarily jumps out at you about it (it's standardly great '77), the end jam leading into St. Stephen is really what earns this my upvote. Jerry just kinda plays around this uniquely mellow but very interesting mini-jazz jam and it melts perfectly into those first notes of Stephen. Maybe b/c this is almost "hidden" as filler on the DP release it hasn't garnered as much attention. But it really deserves a higher place on the rankings!
Shakedown Street
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Bit of a slow start to this one; they all struggle some w/the vocal parts, but then....the post-lyrics jam...a thing of true beauty. I've never been a fan of Jerry's MIDI work BUT here he manages to do some uber-cool stuff that brings a dimension to the Shake-jam I've never quite heard before. And yet the real treat--and the reason this one gets my vote--is what Weir starts playing on rhythm about 10:05 into the tune. This is super-funky cool shit & should be in the Shakedown Hall of Fame!
Row Jimmy
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Nice pace to this one. These very early versions are a bit more uptempo and when they nail it (as they do here) it works nicely. Strong vocals from Jerry, too. Not quite as smooth as the Dick's Picks from the Nebraska/Utah release (my favorite version of '73), but a close second.
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

Agree fully w/Carrion...this version is just a tad different than a lot of other '72-'73's that come charging out of the gate and run like Secretariat to the finish, or those that get real loud and weird somewhere along the line...instead this one glides on super-jazzy Jerry leads and a very mellow line laid down by Phil, then gradually picks up steam and does some jaw-dropping stuff before settling into a very pretty reprise. Stellar version that I'm glad I gave a listen to. I think this show is more normally noted for some of the new material (Eyes, Lucy, TLEO, etc.) but this by-now veteran PITB should not be overlooked.
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