headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

11
Crazy Fingers
April 3, 1990
The Omni

Very strong entry w/no lyrical mistakes & Jerry in fine voice, esp. for the year. Crystal clean sound from '90 spring box set shows how good this is!
14
Brokedown Palace
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

This melts like a dream from a weirdly underrated Dark Star & is sung beautifully by Jerry & played sweetly by all. Give a listen!
6
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 20, 1991
Boston Garden

Ok technically it's Help>Slipknot>Fire but c'mon that's pretty cool & even w/out the novelty of the change-up it's a sweet version
10
Take A Step Back
Oct. 31, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Phil: "Remember, if you step up too close We'll HAVE TO STOP PLAYING. Weir: I would remind you all that Halloween is not a legal holiday"
5
Candyman
Oct. 28, 1977
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

There's a Betty Board of this one available. And it's gorgeous. What's stopping you?
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Comments

Dark Star
Oct. 20, 1968
Greek Theatre - University of California

Been digging into the "short" Dark Stars recently* for the peppy/trippy late 60'svibe, concise but fluid & exciting jam sections...this is one of my favorites from that category. * Kinda like making sure not to neglect fine versions of "Deal" from '72-'74 or '77-'78...not monsters of coda fanning jamming that would come in the 80s, but still gems in their own right.
Franklin's Tower
Jan. 30, 1978
Uptown Theater

This version has a spectacular, relaxed, perfect tempo 2 minute open, and a great strong finish with lots of fanning....unfortunately it sags in the middle like Homer Simpson in a hammock, with a lot of boring meandering noodling, Jerry forgetting the lyrics, and the band just sleepwalking along, which is too bad because this could have made for an epic Jerry triple play of Eyes>Stella>Franklins. I can’t upvote this based on just a strong start and nice finish, though. This is a good sleeper show overall but it could have been a lot better with a stronger Franklins here.
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
Jan. 30, 1978
Uptown Theater

Rip roarer...this whole show could use more ears on it
That Would Be Something
April 5, 1995
Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum

Must agree. What this one has that others (inc. the top slotted BG version) don't is a more emphatic Jerry vocal, which, for a song that essentially had only two lines of lyrics, is pretty important. Well played musically and probably the best version out there, certainly more energetic than the version from DP.
Row Jimmy
Feb. 17, 1973
St. Paul Auditorium

Lost version here. Shares much in common with the gems of 2/15/73 & the Nebraska DP version. So true about the unfortunate cut.
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