headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

2
Pretty Peggy O
Nov. 20, 1985
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center

Seemingly looser and jammier than some, with some great musical conversations.
4
Candyman
July 5, 1978
Omaha Civic Auditorium

Slick, efficient Garcia solo, plus some cool flourishes by the Godchauxs.
3
Friend of the Devil
June 12, 1976
Music Hall

Perfectly phrased and chosen melody lines from Jerry. Another astonishing FOTD of the era.
6
Samson and Delilah
June 10, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Phil’s and Jerry’s sixteenth-note runs light up this version with a country-blues twang faintly reminiscent of Cumberland.
2
Space
June 27, 1983
Poplar Creek Music Theater

Shimmering, dazed Space highlighted by some of Brent’s wildest keyboard tones and textures.

Comments

Dark Star
Oct. 9, 1989
Hampton Coliseum

Fortunately I love Space and MIDI Dead. :-) Don’t get me wrong, this is not as good as the best versions from ’69–’74, but it is HEAVY. A complete mindmelt. In context, the climax of one of the best pre-Drums sequences of the decade. I love it.
Stella Blue
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

This version is just about perfect. Not a note out of place.
Playin' In The Band
April 22, 1977
The Spectrum

There’s a delicate midjam digression in D major with Keith on Moog. Totally unlike any other version I’ve heard. Amazing.
Caution
April 29, 1972
Musikhalle

Just devastating. Holy hell.
St. Stephen
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

“Some of the worst singing the Dead ever did”? You’ve got to be kidding me. There are some vocal performances from the ’60s and mid-’80s that would like to have a word with you. This is average singing from one of their better years vocally. Also, the noodling here is fairly substantive. All in all, an easy upvote, if not quite the absolute best post-hiatus version. (Check out 1/11/78!)