headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

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Submissions

4
Loser
Sept. 10, 1974
Alexandra Palace

Phil drops some serious bombs to complement Jerry’s ringing leads.
4
Pretty Peggy O
Aug. 24, 1980
Grand Center

Jerry’s solo is a fountain of melodic exuberance, reminiscent of the BEW earlier in the set.
4
Wharf Rat
Oct. 27, 1973
Indianapolis State Fair Coliseum

Worth switching to the AUD to hear the explosive ending after the SBD cuts out. Just awe-inspiring.
4
Drums -> Space
March 26, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Freaky electro Drums. In Space, listen for Bobby’s wild playing shortly before Jerry segues into Miracle.
12
Me and Bobby McGee
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Tight, energetic, heartfelt rendition of this era staple.
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Comments

Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

Damn, Keith is ALL over this show. Check out that perfectly timed chromatic run leading up to the drop into A major. Then he switches to electric (Fender Rhodes) for the delicate start of the Rio Grande-o section. But the whole band’s sense of dynamics is just expert here, and that may be just as sweet as the extra few minutes of jamming we’d get in a ’77 version. “YMMV.”
Playin' In The Band
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

It doesn’t get much better than this. Even with the stiff competition of 1974, I’d say this is one of the best versions of the year.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

This thing is killer. There are a lot of improvisational flourishes in China Cat and Rider proper as well as in the transition jam. In China Cat, almost none of Jerry’s lines sound like anything he usually plays there. In Rider, listen to how Keith really attacks the last instrumental break. And Phil is so creative throughout, often playing, it seems, one step off the “expected” note and really building the tension.
Scarlet Begonias
April 18, 1978
Civic Arena

This is an exciting and exquisitely crafted Scarlet. Just do not miss it.
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 19, 1989
The Spectrum

Typical for the period, it’s filled with MIDI ... and quite adventurous. I like both of those traits, but your mileage may vary.
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