headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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merryjerry

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Submissions

9
The Wheel
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

It's so apt that The Wheel would roll into Truckin' that the outro is short but the rest is very nice.
9
Eyes Of The World
June 27, 1984
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Jerry really mines the changes on this one and pulls out plenty of little gold nuggets (like Coltrane). Good interplay, too. An inspired version.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

A cheesy video of this kickass version would have Garcia playing atop a steam locomotive as it barrels down the track.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Incomplete, but what remains is top-notch and essential.
10
Me and Bobby McGee
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

I just gotta nominate this one, that's all.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
Dec. 31, 1976
Cow Palace

And this is really the first version of '77--a year which would prove to be one of the best for Eyes.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

Wow, this (along with the version from 12/10/72) definitely needs more exposure. This one's sibling from the night before needs no introduction but it really doesn't have much on this one. Whereas 11/18/72 could be thought of as akin to a hurricane, this one maybe is more like a solitary wolf traversing vast spaces, but still taking the time to sniff and piss. Thanks for getting me off my ass to listen to this one.
Big River
Feb. 15, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

One of my favorite Dead cover tunes from one of my favorite Dead shows. I love how they packed so much into these short versions back in those days--beautiful economy of ideas. Later in the decade this number would get packed with steroids and significantly increase in size.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 17, 1973
Pauley Pavilion - University of California

The stuff of legends. Interestingly, the head of this PITB is poorly executed, and in no way (that I can tell) hints at the magic to come. Once they get to the first jam, however, this thing takes off with tremendously inspired playing. The transitions between the songs in this sandwich are as smooth as dolphins cutting through water. And, as anyone who's listened to this sandwich knows, the UJB and Dew contained herein are both excellent versions.
Eyes Of The World
Nov. 17, 1973
Pauley Pavilion - University of California

Buoyant. Nice intro for '73 and Jerry's first solo is good. On his second solo Jerry is clearly up against the ropes, but then...inspiration strikes, and we hear pre-echoes of 8/6/74 and then some. Great stuff. The typical outro material of the day is played excellently. As of now, I regard this as a top 5 of '73--which is, obviously, an important year for Eyes.
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