headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

9
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.
2
Brown Eyed Women
Aug. 4, 1982
Kiel Auditorium

Fast-picking goodness. Jerry's bridge solo is long and lightning quick and awesome. 1 point off for lyric flub on re-entry, but the rest is gold.
show more submissions

Comments

Dark Star
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

Much like some of the 10-12 minute PITB's of the Europe '72 run deliver the goods as well as many marathon later versions do, this Dark Star gets down to business while still leaving plenty of room for Garcia to explore the universe with the rest of the crew keeping the ship on course when needed. A concise but bold & brilliant DS worthy of higher ranking. Lots to love here---don't dismiss it for being under half an hour!
Franklin's Tower
Dec. 28, 1980
Oakland Auditorium

Such an underrated gem here--check out Jerry's hard bite vocal on "One watched by NIGHT" & the ensuing jam shredder that follows.
Franklin's Tower
Sept. 23, 1987
The Spectrum

^^^^^Yes!Indeedy! Total sleeper pick here. I agree this is how Franklin's is best played--uptempo but not too fast clip, crunchy Jerry guitar fills & lots of nice tinkling by Brent not mucked up by using fisher price sounds--more traditional key sound here--and unlike some older versions, there's no drag here or lull in the middle--propulsive, driving and yet still beautiful in spots--this is a five star Franklin's hiding in plain view & just waiting to be discovered. I recommend the Healy matrix--and make sure you check out Jerry's impassioned growling in the outro chorus. Excellent recommend!
Comes A Time
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

Had to add to this vote total b/c on further listening the guitar solo is nearly as pristine as 5/9/77 & has its own special touch of Jerry--slinky, almost dragging across the strings but w/out losing the gentleness that marks the solo-- & this version has overall better vocals (by a hair, but still)....Buffalo still deserves its top spot for the indescribable "it" or "X" factor, but this gorgeous version is every bit as worthy if not "the" one.
Touch of Grey
March 27, 1987
Civic Center

One of the best things about the new DaP is getting this awesome version in tip top matrix form.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)