headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

43
Estimated Prophet
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

From the famous "ravenspace" show; the only version in which the main theme is reprised+lots of Bob yelling
64
Ship of Fools
May 9, 1977
War Memorial

Perfection. The "comes a time" for this show gets all the attention but this SOF is just as grand
64
Uncle John's Band
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Part of a 2nd set for the ages; flows in & out of PITB teases & then reprises into killer Dew
20
Terrapin Station
Dec. 31, 1987
Oakland Coliseum Arena

Hold on tight!
51
Bertha
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Sweet bass drop-ins by Phil on intro; extended Garcia solos in bridge jam; very intense and fun

Comments

Stagger Lee
Sept. 16, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Yep. Well chosen by Latvala. This one does have a lengthy and juicy outro.
Aiko Aiko
Sept. 16, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Shoulda upped this ages ago. Lots of crescent city swagger and one of the few times the MIDI does some good (the aforementioned Jerry trumpet sound works here). Long, jammy, very danceable top notch version.
Shakedown Street
April 16, 1984
Community War Memorial Auditorium

I'd suggest the Miiller SBD, a very fine source for a grossly underrated show. Love this Shake for the sheer goofy funk it delivers...the goofy part is the final vocal join in and dang if they ain't all hamming it up and having a grand time doing it. Jerry slays his solos and Bobby works double time keeping the faster paced rhythm. More I hear from this show the more I like.
Deal
Sept. 16, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Spun ths recently and realized that because this show has so many highlights I'd overlooked this killer Deal. Multiple peaks and a great blending of the Hornsby sound to put an exclamation point on the end of set one. Must have been a lot of stunned, super wide smiles of awe when the lights came up. (Best Iko of the 90s at this show too)
Bird Song
Sept. 6, 1991
Richfield Coliseum

Spectacular jam section, as in truly amazing and dramatic...not even the MIDI can detract from it...upping it on the basis of that (being the lion's share of the song) but I also have to note that Jerry's vocals are horrendous here. You kind of have to ignore the fact that he can't hit a single note and it's objectively awful. That said, the jam is what this version is about and it's all that's advertised here and more.