headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

11
Aiko Aiko
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

With the Neville Bros. Jerry gets his Big Easy on.
16
Promised Land
May 25, 1977
The Mosque

Perfection to end the first set of one of the truly great shows ever. Keith, Bobby, Jerry--the whole crew is in the pocket and rocking it hard.
14
Promised Land
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Both the best and worst version ever. Why? April Fool's gag: Bobby - keys, Brent & Jerry -drums, Billy - bass - Mickey -guitar Phil-vocals
75
Big River
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

They just could do no wrong at this show, Hidden among all the other gems is this monster River. Big solo work by Jerry; nice fills by Keith.
13
Brother Esau
Oct. 28, 1985
Fox Theater

Complete with kickin' cow bell, nice long intro, easily one of the best you'll find.

Comments

Estimated Prophet
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

oops mean to comment on the eyes from this show but this is a very worthy lead-in estimated
Eyes Of The World
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

^^^^poster bladexni totally nails it re: my absolute favorite thing about this version. That little foray into space/slipknot/breakdown at around the 9:30-10:00 minute mark trails off like Wile E. Coyote running past the cliff edge where he hangs in mid-air a full long second or two before realizing what's happened...you think maybe they've kost the thread but when the bottom falls out they all plunge as one headlong back into the main theme and it is pure Grateful Dead magic. I've yet to hear a bad '73 version but I'm not sure I've ever heard one where they pull off that particular trick.
Aiko Aiko
July 5, 1978
Omaha Civic Auditorium

You just found buried treasure if you made it down this far to find this serious underrated version. Played at a brisk clip w/tight contributions from all (great drums here) esp. all (fair warning for a tad too much Bobby slide) but Jer's growling out the vox for a very big crowd & Donna's right there w/him. Oughta be way higher.
Pretty Peggy O
June 30, 1974
Civic Center

There are lots of more jammed out versions to come in '77 but I don't think I've ever heard Jerry's vocals better sung than on this little early ditty right here. I mean like sweet as honey vocals...easy upvote for that alone but also Keith fans will swoon over his beautiful fills here. .
Eyes Of The World
June 30, 1974
Civic Center

Go directly to this Miller source: https://archive.org/details/gd1974-06-30.sbd.miller.96275.sbeok.flac16/gd74-06-30d3t05.flac & tell me this isn't one of the greatest intros to EOTW you've ever laid ears on....oh, & the rest to follow is typically jazz jam '74 Deadheaven. Sleeper indeed.