headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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sylvanriv

90s expert

+1262


Submissions

1
Black Throated Wind
July 27, 1994
Riverport Amphitheatre

Surprisingly good. Nice rave-up at the end, and Jerry's fills throughout are genuinely great.
1
The Other One
March 26, 1995
The Omni

Spacey, atonal version. Shows where they were headed in 95 - a lot of interesting sounds.
3
Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
March 28, 1984
Marin County Veterans Auditorium

Cool version that Jerry starts and the band jumps on while Bob works out some gear issues. Last one ever, first in years, and only electric version.
2
Morning Dew
March 26, 1995
The Omni

Very powerful vocals from Jerry. Beyond intense "I guess it doesn't matter anyway"
1
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Feb. 19, 1995
Delta Center

Last version. Not perfect, but especially soulful. There's a nice new video up on youtube and jerry's very animated.

Comments

Ain't Superstitious (Meet Me on the Bottom)
March 29, 1985
Nassau Coliseum

Mickey throws like 8 drumsticks at Matt Kelly at the end of this one. Kelly had apparently just shown up after being pretty much cut off by the Dead (Billy in particular, I believe Kelly stiffed him a lot of money)
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
March 28, 1985
Nassau Coliseum

Love Jerry's "Wish I was a headlight" on this one - he's growlin (or more accurately straining against his destroyed larynx lmao)
Cassidy
March 28, 1985
Nassau Coliseum

Classic '85 Cassidy. They take the hard left at the end of the jam perfectly, Jerry brings it into the stratosphere, and they crash back. It's not the BEST version, not even of 85, but it's excellent and representative of the year and what I think a Cassidy should sound like.
Truckin'
March 28, 1985
Nassau Coliseum

Not sure how this one doesn't have more votes. Pitch-perfect windup and drop out of the jam. Great vocals throughout (for 85) and leads into a fantastic first set. Some of the first east coast shows for the band after Jerry's bust and they're amped up. Nassau always good. This is the run of shows where Mickey threw a stick at Matt Kelly during Smokestack lmao if that helps get a sense of where the Dead were at by this point lol
Pretty Peggy O
June 26, 1994
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl

Love this version so much. Acoustic tone rocks and the solo is truly cohesive and beautiful. The video is perfect and beautiful. I do wonder if the reason this is voted so high is that it's one of the first dead videos that we all watched; it's been on youtube since youtube existed. Doesn't make it a bad version though.