headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Books and Music

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Submissions

24
Franklin's Tower
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

One of the best played versions from one of the best played shows in the Brent era---ever.
16
Shakedown Street
March 24, 1981
Rainbow Theater

15+ minutes of funk w/extended overlapping vocal rounds of "just gotta poke around", etc. before jam Brent adds cool "fuzzy" SFX
1
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 30, 1971
Taft Auditorium

Check out Keith on this one! He's never been so up front before & right outta the gate!!
21
Cream Puff War
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Peppy early version w/Jer belting out lyrics & Pig doin' some nice work on organ. No archive copy exists; got this off 30 Days of Dead-worth the DL!
9
Passenger
May 7, 1979
Allan Kirby Field House

Super-charged EARLY Brent version rips and tears and shreds. Final jam before the coda is the best they ever did in this tune. Goes to 11.
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Comments

Jack Straw
June 10, 1990
Cal Expo

Needs a bump for certain. There are a ridiculous number of super-hit versions of this song. They performed it well in every era (though the extended jam portion/touchdown didn't really take off until 1977), but this version is so good it belongs in any "Top 10" discussion. I'll still rank several higher (such as 10/29/77, 6/4/78, 4/6/87, and 12/29/77 to name just a few, but I'd never rank this version anywhere below #10 all time.)
China Doll
Oct. 23, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

This to me beats every electric version and really brings out the true essence of the song. It's never sounded more beautiful or haunting. Also love the crowd reaction after the "Take up your China Doll..." chorus.
Pretty Peggy O
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Has one of the best mid-song jams ever performed in this tune There are a couple others I like a tad better overall (12/27/77, 5/19/77), but this is easily a top-tier version that also gets my vote.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

My guess is that there are so many incredible S>F combos in May '77 that equally worthy entries like this one just get over- looked. This whole show cooks (check out the Peggy-O), and this combo is up there w/any of the best from this golden month/year.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 9, 1981
Activity Center - University of Colorado

Not only is this version sick, it is sickeningly underrated here. The transition jamming is furious and the "Rider" may actually be better than the "China", which is extremely rare indeed. PLUS you get the added fun of Bobby actually saying "Here comes the breakdown, ladies and gentlemen" during the acapella coda section at the end. If this isn't the best China>Rider of 1981 I don't know what is (yes, it's better than MSG from March), and it stands as one of the best post 70's versions ever played. So many more votes needed here. For real.
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