headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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merryjerry

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Submissions

9
Big River
Sept. 28, 1975
Lindley Meadows, Golden Gate Park

An explosive reading of the tune. Maybe Billy had an inkling beforehand and just wanted to be sure ya'll knew it was still a cowboy number.
12
Promised Land
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

A very nice 'lush' version nominated in the ongoing attempt to evaluate all of Dick's picks.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 16, 1980
Nassau Coliseum

Gotten good mileage outta this one the last few months.
7
The Other One
June 26, 1974
Providence Civic Center

Proud and upstanding part of a great sequence. Phil is at the top of his game in one of his greatest of bass-playing years.
12
The Other One
Nov. 23, 1973
County Coliseum

This is most notable, I'd say, for the absolutely nuclear bomb that Phil drops during the 'Space' portion. Play it loud on a big rig!
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Comments

Bertha
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Had no trouble sitting through this one. Top-shelf '77 version, Wolf-style.
St. Stephen
Oct. 15, 1977
Moody Coliseum - Southern Methodist University

Boy could Jerry read and give an audience what it needed! Like some of those saints of yore (and I mean real saints, not Pig-era versions) this one may be a bit bedeviled by an attention-grabbing wart or two, but it is nevertheless virtuous.
Bertha
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Grendel, here's hoping that DeKalb was among the returned stash and, as is often the case, you are absolutely right about that 'Bertha': smokin'. Right from the outset you can tell it's gonna be a big one the way Phil falls in. Impressive how they are so in sync passing each other with all the descending and ascending parts, like synchronized elevators in a glass-fronted building possessed by a supernatural force. And Jerry and Wolf really howl. Comparing this one to the version from the 5th is a great comparison of Bean '77 and Wolf '77. What a year!
New Minglewood Blues
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

Many GD songs vary greatly from vintage to vintage, often managing to achieve excellence but in different ways; for example, '74 and '77 'Scarlet Begonias' can both soar, the only difference being that they travel through different dimensions and from different angles. That said, and despite an odd start, this version here is definetely among those at the apex of the '77/'78 vintage: absolutely smokin'!
The Music Never Stopped
July 3, 1978
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

The dreamy part of the jam is so good that it can't help but be a bit awkward when they launch into the rock out; nevertheless, listen to the version from the July '78 box and see that this one is more accomplished than most of those currently sitting above it on the list.
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