headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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sylvanriv

90s expert

+1262


Submissions

3
The Music Never Stopped
March 23, 1992
The Palace

Truly proves there was some magic on every tour. The outro jam is unreal hot, with Jerry, Vince, and Bruce battling it out. Crazy stuff here!
3
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 6, 1984
Richmond Coliseum

Awesome focused jam and beautiful meltdown outro
2
Aiko Aiko
June 6, 1992
Rich Stadium

Jerry gets really into it in the second half. Not lifechanging, but fun
2
Truckin'
July 8, 1987
Roanoke Civic Center

Excellent, hard-charging version from arguably the best show of 87. Bobby stuttering all over the verses
1
Throwing Stones
April 4, 1994
Sports Arena

Very solid version. Video shows Jerry present and very into it.

Comments

Dark Star
Feb. 18, 1971
Capitol Theater

I avoided this for years because I heard it once when I was 16 and thought it was overrated...how WRONG was I??? The 2 or 3 minute "beautiful jam" segment is truly unreal. The way Bobby and Phil are always there to catch Jerry with a beautiful major key resolution as he weaves his notes through the cosmos is just lovely. Jerry's playing here (and in a lot of early 71) is so different than how he played ever again. absolutely unbelievable use of dynamics.
Estimated Prophet
July 26, 1994
Riverport Amphitheatre

Pretty spacey and hot outro jam. The body of the song is nothing to write home about, but Phil, Vince, and the drummers take the out jam into space! very cool, i think the one from Jerrys birthday show is better though
Looks Like Rain
Oct. 14, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Pretty terrible version. Whenever Jerry whipped out the weird spooky sounding octave pedal that he used a lot in late 94 and 95, you knew it was because he couldn't handle playing anything difficult. See also 7/23/94 Cassidy or a lot of 94-95 Sugarees.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 14, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Love the little theme Jerry plays with for about 15 seconds at 19:30 in Fire. That, IMO, is where the Fire heats up.
Queen Jane Approximately
Oct. 14, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Best version of this tune as far as I'm concerned. Jerry's tone is lovely and Vince's contributions elevate this one. Bob and Vince playing off each other at the end is just so nice. Clearly the whole band having fun here.