headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+22921


Submissions

5
Man Smart, Woman Smarter
March 26, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Love when Brent takes the vocal on 2nd verse PLUS check out the little trade-off he & Bob do on lyrics in last stanza. Bouncy, jaunty, supefun stuff
5
Not Fade Away
Jan. 11, 1978
Shrine Auditorium

Solid rhythmic NFA with Donna in good form and a tasty little space outro
2
Me and My Uncle
April 19, 1978
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Garciia packs epic multitudes into his brief guitar solo. Check out this WAY under the radar MAMU>BigRiver pairing. One of the best ever.
2
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
May 11, 1991
Shoreline Amphitheatre

Slowest but also funkiest version ever played. Garcia stumbles out of the gates on lyrics but it's no train wreck & the band rescues for a winner
2
Aiko Aiko
May 11, 1991
Shoreline Amphitheatre

Bruce is boss on this one, his keys just adding color & style throughout the tune. Overlooked show & performance

Comments

Man Smart, Woman Smarter
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

youngdog is right
Franklin's Tower
Nov. 23, 1978
Capital Centre

Poking around for an overlooked, hiding in plain sight, totally underappreciated gem of a Franklin's? You found it right here. In fact the whole show it's from is kinda full of 'em. Hints of the laryngitis in Garcia's vocals that would really take hold over the next few nights but it's not full blown here yet & kinda endearing in a Jerry giving it his all sort of way
He's Gone
Oct. 28, 1977
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall

Powerhouse outro jam and silky smooth mellow vocal coda preceding it...stellar version needing so many more votes
Greatest Story Ever Told
May 4, 1972
Olympia Theater

Freaking love what Keith does on this version & the rest of the band aint half bad either. Slower, funkier, groovier version that most of the speedballs of the era...needs some ups.
Dancin' in the Streets
April 27, 1985
Frost Amphitheatre

Garcia's long slinky solo on this waaaay underrated version harkens back to some of the pickin' he did on the tune in the heydey of 1970, no joke. I like Brent's harmonies better here too altho' take a point off if you like for Bobby's oddly less than energetic lead vocal--not terrible by any means but as an opener it coulda been a bit peppier. Nitpicking really tho'...this is a fine rendition especially for the era and should go higher w/the new Dap49 release