headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

13
Brother Esau
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Complete with kickin' cow bell, nice long intro, easily one of the best you'll find.
13
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 7, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Give it a spin before Santa comes...Pig does Chuck Berry and Kris Kringle proud!
11
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

DP Vol. 7 in London...special hard-core ROCK&ROLL kick-ass version, as if to remind the good folks across the Pond what happened 200 years earlier.
5
The Wheel
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

Like every song in this vastly underrated show: Just Exactly Perfect.
28
Beat it on Down The Line
Feb. 28, 1973
Salt Palace

Normally not a song I take much notice of...but Keith just takes over this puppy and turns it into a rollicking good time!
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Comments

They Love Each Other
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

yes yes YES!!!!
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 27, 1977
Winterland Arena

No might about it. How this one escaped my attention before I have no idea. Extended jam by Jerry, impassioned lyrics. This one has it all. Same show contains possibly the best ever "Peggy-O", but I digress ;-)
Here Comes Sunshine
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Had to bump this one into the lead after hearing it for the first time. The '73 versions noted below are all excellent but this goes beyond in terms of jam tightness and sense of purpose. Check out the picture perfect piano flourish by Keith heading back into one of the main theme reprises.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 2, 1978
Giants Stadium

Funny--I just ASSUMED this was already here! Indeed a stellar version and reportedly Dick Latvala's favorite all-time. It's arguably the most intense of the "Scarlets" in this pairing ever, and the jamming on both tunes is very tilted to the rock n roll side of the ledger. Certainly belongs on a Top 10 list of all-time versions, even if you prefer some of the more "silky" 1977 versions (as I do.)
New Minglewood Blues
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

...as is the whole show. Check out every tune.
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