headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

1
Space
April 3, 1982
The Scope

This brief Space is more of an extended Jerry-led intro to NFA, and it's way cool. This show is out of sight.
4
Bird Song
June 13, 1994
Memorial Stadium

Adventurous, somewhat dissonant jam from a fairly strong first set. Fans of Welnick-era improv should check this out.
3
Its All Over Now
Nov. 10, 1985
Meadowlands Arena

Rowdy but still sharply played. Check out this superb first set.
1
Row Jimmy
June 21, 1976
Tower Theater

Intense and electrifying, highlighted perhaps by Jerry’s vocal performance. Another amazing June ’76 Row Jimmy.
3
I Need A Miracle
Dec. 17, 1978
Fox Theatre

Hot early version with a well-developed Jerry-led outro jam. Check out the amazing Joann Walker recording.

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!)