headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
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Comments

Black Peter
June 26, 1973
Seattle Center Coliseum

Great call here. What this version lacks in big meaty outro jam (head to ‘77 for that) it makes up for in passionate vocals and perfect blues delivery. Upgrade worthy and yeah the box set sounds amazing.
Bertha
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

This might be THE most grossly underrated version of any tune on this site. It blows the doors off nearly every version above it (with a handful of exceptions, maybe fewer) in every facet of the game--from vocals to overall jamming to Garcia's mid-tune solo. This entire show gets overlooked (Eyes, NFA, GTRFB, hell--the whole thing!) but this is the worst snub of the bunch.
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Oct. 5, 1994
The Spectrum

Always thought the debut version was best but I’m rethinking that after hearing this one. Like this entire show (a gem for the year hiding in plain sight behind the far more celebrated Boston Garden show 4 nights earlier) you’ll find Jerry in fine vocal form and playing tight tight tight to this excellent encore. He even growls out one of the final lines. Come on without/Come on within...
Big River
May 17, 1974
P.N.E. Coliseum

Give it up for Billy keeping pace with Jerry, too. Right old '74 barn burner.
Casey Jones
June 22, 1973
Pacific Coliseum

The band somehow achieves mellow hotness on this one.
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