headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24533


Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.

Comments

Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

the best, Jerry...the Best!
Bird Song
Sept. 21, 1972
The Spectrum

Absolutely agree. Would have listed this one myself had I not assumed it was already here. Keith really provides a gorgeous bridge to a typically smooth and mesmerizing 1972 version. Must-hear.
They Love Each Other
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

All about Keith...check his gorgeous flowing lines that make this one so silky smooth.
Not Fade Away
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From one of the all-time greatest shows ever played and my personal #1 favorite. Killer Stephen precedes it...Black Peter...Sugar Mag--all stellar.
Dark Star
Sept. 21, 1972
The Spectrum

Can't believe I only just experienced this. Garcia concocts an MLB while making his electric guitar sound like a bluegrass banjo in the final stanza and leads the rest of the gang on an exploration of improv jamming that must be heard to be believed. Rest of the half hour masterpiece aint too shabby either. Jazzy, mellow, but hard-driving in places...not too much dissonant noise distortion..but that final fury of bluegrass-infused jazz improv leading into AM Dew puts this one into legendary territory.