headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

15
Dark Star
April 17, 1969
Washington U.

Worthy, discursive version from an amazing month.
18
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
July 12, 1989
RFK Stadium

Jerry just attacks this one (vocally too) right from the outset. I love summer '89.
5
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Lively version, practically rollicking!
5
Row Jimmy
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

As focused and energetic as the rest of the show, Jerry plays with the phrasing of his solos without missing a beat.
1
Looks Like Rain
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Another noteworthy '77 version. Listen for Jerry's melodic lines over Bob and Donna's vocal coda.

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!)