headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+4803


Submissions

1
Space
Sept. 4, 1979
Madison Square Garden

Super heady, effects-drenched Space that suggests what a fall ’79 Dark Star might’ve sounded like.
2
Promised Land
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

This really gets cookin’! Keith, Billy, and Jerry seem to be playing little rhythmic games, switching up the accents in interesting ways.
3
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

Splendid set closer with delightfully boisterous contributions from Keith and a permeating feeling of real joy.
2
Stella Blue
July 21, 1984
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Sweetly melodic outro, well-played. I really enjoyed this Space > Other One > Stella.
1
Althea
July 21, 1984
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Forceful and confident, with rowdy playing from Bobby and Brent in particular.

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!)