headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
11
Beat it on Down The Line
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

A breezy bouncin' bubbly Bobby Beat it...best of the 90's.
8
El Paso
March 27, 1972
Academy of Music

Jerry in serious bluegrass mode. Most country-westernized version ever. At the end Phil sez "Thanks, Texans" even tho' they're in NYC. Awesome version
23
Let It Grow
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Hornsby gets on board in a big way & Jerry jazzes up the jam sections. Weir slashes away & sings w/passion. Strong candidate for Best of the 90's.
4
Desolation Row
April 17, 1987
Irvine Meadows

This song was only as good as Bobby was committed to it, and on this night he was 100% in Dylan-idoling mode. Gorgeous rendeition, lovingly sung.
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Comments

Shakedown Street
May 7, 1980
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Underrated greatness right here. Funkytown USA, population: This version.
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

Ha! Well you may not like what I have to say but basically this PITB is just too big and too hectic for my liking and (IMHO) 2/26/77 is far more elegant and beautiful in comparison. Especially now with the new DP release it sounds better than ever and I’ll always put Swing far ahead of this version. And I’m saying that as a huge fan of just about every other song in this otherwise amazing show!
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Spectacular & sounding crystal clear in the new DaP release, but can we talk about the reprise for a minute?, because it's about as majestic as they come. There's a sparkly, twinkly, swirly elegant kind of spirally thing Garcia does at the very end that gives me shivers. I'm sure I'm not expressing it right, but it's there & needs ears.
Candyman
Sept. 16, 1978
Sphinx Theatre

Yep, shoulda done this a while ago. Thanks for the reminder that the Egypt shows suffer from a weird word of mouth reputation for being not good. There are "off" performances within all the shows that stick out but what's good is extremely good...and this Candyman is in the latter.
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Sept. 9, 1991
MSG

Bruce is the difference maker in this one. All Quinns have their appeal, fun as it is, but his keys really make this one stand out a tad more.
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