headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

4
Dire Wolf
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Keith's fills really stand out. More of an elastic bouncy version than leaden thumping one.
8
Jack Straw
Sept. 18, 1991
Madison Square Garden

Jerry and Bruce tear it up. Check out the sweet matrix!
5
Row Jimmy
Sept. 18, 1991
Madison Square Garden

Enchanting Hornsby-era lullaby.
5
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Rare and different version. Thunderous.
3
Wharf Rat
March 30, 1987
The Spectrum

Played and sung like they really mean it. This one's got that "X factor."

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.