headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23524


Submissions

19
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 11, 1989
Meadowlands Arena

Bob's lyric phrasing on this version is unique. He sings it in a way so different than any I've heard before & it's inventive & super-fun. Must hear!
7
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 14, 1981
Hartford Civic Center

Best of the 80's or 90's, hands down. Picture perfect rendition: Vocals, jam fills, & finish.

Comments

Eyes Of The World
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Listening right now baffled at how this is in single digits still & it's not like it's from some obscure show. This is from one of the best shows of an A+ MSG run in the fall of 1990 & this version is typical of the year for its mellow goodness. But this one also stands out for the great keys of Hornsby & some really inventive vibe/calypso flourishes throughout. I think it's better even than the much higher ranked 3/31/91 in NC, & that version is pretty fantastic. Look, nothing in this version is going to remotely approach a '74, '77 or '78 ripper in terms of Jerry opening another dimension in his solos (see 10/29/77 for transport to said dimension) but this is truly exceptional latter day Dead Jazz and it deserves a way higher spot if we're being fair at all to one of the band's greatest tunes.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

I mean, every '77 Eyes needs an upvote, but I just dug this nugget out of cold storage today & was amazed--even for the greatest ever year for this song--how stunningly good this one is & it needs to get out of single digit territory. Velveeta cheese (in its best sense) is not a bad description ^^^^
Aiko Aiko
Sept. 16, 1978
Sphinx Theatre

Can't believe I haven't upped this before!. This is the ultimate grooved-out mellow as the dunes of Egypt version, & yes, I love how Donna sounds on this one! The delayed overlapping on jockamo fee na nay between her & Bobby is like nectar. Yeah, it's on the short side but that also keeps it from dragging like some later versions would. Methinks this one is getting lost in the shuffle. Should be out of the single digits by now.
Foolish Heart
Dec. 28, 1990
Coliseum Arena

I never really cared a whole lot for this song (or much of anything from BTL tbh) until i heard this version, which is so spectacularly jammed in two heavy sections that are as jazzy as anything they did in any era, and they are in a groove on this one as well. It's still not a tune I seek out but when I do it's almost always to this one.
Brokedown Palace
June 25, 1995
RFK Stadium

This is really a sweet version. Jer gives it his all and then some,