headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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OrangeTangoJam

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Submissions

1
Mister Charlie
Dec. 4, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

The blues is strong here, Jerry's solo is truly incredible. Keith laying it down with Pigpen in the Garden rapping up a storm. One of the best.
1
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 23, 1978
Capital Centre

The band tries to catch Jerry and wolf as they’re seemingly on the loose. Traversing through snowy mountaintops. A wonderful journey.
1
Good Lovin'
March 9, 1981
Madison Square Garden

Brent’s organ takes this to another level. I’m partial towards the Pigpen Version, but this shines in its own ways. Lovely phrasing from Jerry as well
1
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
March 9, 1981
Madison Square Garden

Shocked to not see this here yet. Absolute scorcher from a really great show. Jerry’s tone cuts through like a scorching hot knife. Skin your wife.
1
Drums
Aug. 12, 1972
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Coming out of He's Gone. Billy goes ham, hitting the drums like a machine gun.

Comments

Let It Grow
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

That turkey gobble made me let out a little chuckle. During the jam before the last verse, there’s some weird tape interference which genuinely sounds like a turkey. Regardless of that Jerry is utterly relentless showing off his chops on this Olympic exercise of a song. As a guitar player, this song is crazy difficult to solo over, and Jerry just soars over this with some incredibly beautiful and powerful phrasing. It’s stuff like this that really makes me appreciate his musicianship.
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

^Great reccomendation bzfgt. You can hear how synched up these guys are, especially when you compare it to the beginning of the year, this is as naturally played as it could be, it's like breathing for them, very second nature for them at this point. The subtle changes in dynamics during the jam at the end shows a thirst for musical innovation through some enlightening interplay and melodic inventiveness, this gives a peak into what this song will become in 74. Just wonderful.
Dark Star
Oct. 25, 1973
Dane County Coliseum

A call out for life in our ever expansive universe, ultimately coming into direct contact with extraterrestrials. This is music for a seraphim, with machine elves working their trickster magic on the listener and giving them a peak of what's really out there, but never giving it all away. Keith in particular stands out for me on this one, he adds such wonder and curiosity, with Phil conjuring ancient melodies of old, and the band exploring these beautiful chromatic spaces that truly leaves your head empty to eventually fill it with bliss and ancient arcane knowledge. A stunning MLB and creative and imaginative geometric landscapes, this what late 73 is all about.
Cassidy
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Really shocked to see so little votes for this version, Jerry is particularly bouncy all throughout, a swinging rendition that’ll make you wanna groove and groove, and then groove some more. Cassidy is one of those songs that when it’s on, it’s one of my favorites of a late 70s or even early 80s set.
Dire Wolf
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

One of the last if not the last Dire Wolf in its original key of A, from here on they transpose it to C for the rest of their careers. Feels like sitting around a campfire and listening to a story passed down from generation to generation, fire raging, the hum of insects in the air, on a warm and temperate humid night. Great version.