headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

2
Friend of the Devil
April 10, 1983
West Virginia University Coliseum

A Garcia solo worth savoring. Very special.
5
Let It Grow
May 13, 1983
Greek Theater

Ferocious but not reckless. Tremendous feeling and poise. The show as a whole seems woefully underrated.
4
Bird Song
May 13, 1983
Greek Theater

Jerry soars from the first note while Brent's compI ng subtly shades darker. A mesmerizing gyre. Check out the fine Keshavan/Miller AUD.
7
Estimated Prophet
May 4, 1979
Hampton Coliseum

Roller coaster outro rises, drops, and swerves again and again, led by Jerry at lightning speed.
2
Ship of Fools
May 4, 1979
Hampton Coliseum

I love the way Brent contributes to this delicate but sprightly Ship. Magical.

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!)