headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.

Comments

Morning Dew
May 26, 1972
Strand Lyceum

@LuckyKentucky All the vocals on the original Europe '72 release were dubbed in later as post-production in studio. I believe 5/26 is the version that appears on Europe '72 but the vocals are dubbed.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

This one is a joy to listen to. Feels acoustic even tho' it's electric...like a jug band version in some ways and Jerry's sweet vocals are perfect. Great rendition when you want something different than the ballad-like slow versions.
Friend of the Devil
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

This one is a joy to listen to. Feels acoustic even tho' it's electric...like a jug band version in some ways and Jerry's sweet vocals are perfect. Great rendition when you want something different than the ballad-like slow versions.
Eyes Of The World
June 8, 1977
Winterland Arena

Agree this version gets overlooked. Spun it again the other day and was mesmerized by the flowing, beautiful near 4 minute intro alone and the rest is pretty great too. It doesn't reach the jamming intensity of 10/29/77 or the intricate jazz signatures of some '73 and '74 versions but I bumped it up here for its under-ratedness. It is worthy!
Shakedown Street
April 17, 1982
Hartford Civic Center

More votes indeed. This version is so smooth and well-executed it may get overlooked for not being as "explosive" as some others--like, perhaps, the vastly (IMHO) overrated 6-30-85. Compare that with Jerry's far silkier and confident vocals in this version, and the terrific jazz feel that floats this one along on wings, and you'll see. Brent and Jerry also play off each other beautifully here and the whole band is on target. 1982 was a great year for Shakedown and this is one of its best.