headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.
11
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.

Comments

Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Sept. 3, 1977
Raceway Park

Agree with Estimated insofar as that while Englishtown is a fine show, it is not to my ears as spectacular as its rep seems to be. For the greatest 1/2 step ever performed--by a country mile--I go immediately to Broome County 11/6/77, and have yet to hear a better one. Yes, that includes 5/7/77, which is terrific.
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 8, 1982
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Nice call. Fast-pickin' by Jerry but controlled at the same time--nice, extended bridge solo and no flubs on the lyrics. I tend towards 1977 versions but this one speaks well for its time!
Eyes Of The World
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

I can't vote for this twice but can add that it is indeed criminally underrated here. The opening jam alone before a word is sung is a thing of beauty and the ensuing jams in between are stunning in execution and inventiveness. It's not quite the level of the IMO best-ever 10/29/77 but it's not far off either.
Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 31, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

This is the longer, un-cut original version from "Dead Set"!
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 30, 1978
Pauley Pavilion

Props to Donna on this one. Possibly her finest moment of adding lovely, in-tune scatting for the first portion of the transition jam. Rolls it along nicely into the instrumental jam section. The "Fire" in this pairing is noteworthy as well for Jerry's excellent vocals--belting out the lyrics, and--a rarity--not missing a single word.