headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
June 26, 1994
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl

The only problem with these '91-'95 Eyes is a lack of peak jamming. It's not valleys you're left with...more like meadows, that just stretch and stretch and are really nice and pleasant but not much in the way of thrills. This one falls into that category but benefits from the acoustic guitar sound Jerry runs with & that might be enough to get you to upvote it. I'm holding off, only because this is nice for its era, maybe one of the better ones (& best certainly I've heard from '94 unless someone else has a rec), but there are so many better versions in every era that I can't quite tick this one up. (I also wouldn't disagree too strongly with anyone that would.)
Visions of Johanna
April 22, 1986
Berkeley Community Theatre

A livelier rendition here than the lauded '95's, which have more gravitas and do sound more "Dylan-esque" perhaps, but Jer's voice is better here than in any of those '95's & there's a stronger punch to the lyric delivery. Check out the "Infinity goes up on trial" thru the Mona Lisa musta had the highway blues" section & you'll see what I mean.
Loser
April 12, 1978
Cameron Indoor Stadium

Don't know how I overlooked this one. Jerry really takes his time with the solo and goes a few extra rounds before finding the high register and nailing it down. Unlike the other versions this one at least rivals (3/24/90 & 7/22/84, my 2 faves) Jerry doesn't rejoin the "last fair deal" at the climax of the solo, but ties a bow on it instead & lets it resolve a bit before heading into the riff that gets us back to the lyric. It's freaking great either way & the vocals are spot-on, too. It's way down the ladder from those other two leaders but it shouldn't be.
Dark Star
July 25, 1974
International Amphitheater

Where has this one been hiding? (From me anyway--at least 18 others at my count here knew all about it.) Jazz chops galore for the first half into some gorgeous, quiet, drifting space & then a collective color palette of mid 70s fusion stuff that's unique to most Dark Stars I've heard. Never gets dissonant or screechy...and not a word is sung...a completely instrumental Dark Star in the best possible way...oh, and uh, yeah there's that whole slipknot jam thing ya get, too. My vote made this 19 can we please get a 'Head to bump this at the very least up to 20?
Terrapin Station
March 2, 1992
The Omni

You weren't kidding. This is one fantastic Terrapin hiding in plain sight. Very fluid musically, not choppy or disjointed as some later year versions can be. Take a quarter point off maybe for some less than stellar vocals in the "Terrapin" chorus leading into the final jam coda, but before then Jerry is in fine vocal form (esp. for '92) and delivers a real confident and colorful reading. Post lyrics jam is drum-heavy and right on the mark...leads into a sizzling drums jam, as stated above.
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