headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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jbrucer

43 years dead

+1044


Submissions

6
Beat it on Down The Line
April 25, 1971
Fillmore East

Nowt wrong with the Ladies and Gentlemen version, better than many here, deserves a mention
4
Cold Rain and Snow
March 25, 1966
Trouper's Hall

I like the early ones. They have better tempo.
12
And We Bid You Goodnight
Nov. 11, 1973
Winterland Arena

Good version of this short number
10
Not Fade Away
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Very good with interesting closing jam before it fades into GDTRFB
19
Loose Lucy
Aug. 6, 1974
Roosevelt Stadium

Superb AUD tape version. A must have

Comments

Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 14, 1976
Beacon Theatre

Not the best HOTW>S>FT. Slipknot is great, possibly best; but Phil is sloppy on HOTW, and Jerry is minimalist in FT. NB Just listened to it again a couple of times. Slipknot isn' that good at the begining; a lot of missed cues. Were the boys rushing ?
Loose Lucy
Aug. 6, 1974
Roosevelt Stadium

The AUD is better than the DP, IMO. This is a clap-along version. Listen for the Deadhead who wants St Stephen ("I am begging you on my hands and knees")
St. Stephen
Jan. 22, 1978
McArthur Court, U of Oregon

Dissenting opinion. Yes, the Close Encounters Jam and seque into St. Stephen is sublime; but how they treat the Saint itself after that is questionable. Personally, I don't like the folksie middle bit (with the usual out of tune singing). StS was best in 68/69/70/71, IMO.
Box of Rain
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Seriously, this is awful. The only listenable versions are Sep 17 1970, and the two "breakout" versions in March 1986 (20 and 24). Those last two are so emotional. I wish I had been there. So emotional because clearly Phil's voice died sometime 72 (?) and, 13 years later he sang it again. Shame. It is one of my favourite songs. I wish more 70/71 versions were available.
Wharf Rat
June 26, 1974
Providence Civic Center

I agree on this one. Nice, sparse, climactic and emotional, with good dynamic range. Some later ones are too jazzy, and have insufficient mood change when August resolves to change his life.