headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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parrott56

millennial head

+5024


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

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!)
China Doll
Sept. 10, 1983
Downs of Santa Fe

I love the ’83-style pre-Drums China Dolls. Jerry and Phil bail on the jam pretty quickly, but then we get to enjoy some fine, harmonically adventurous Bobby, Brent, and Rhythm Devils jamming. Great stuff.
Bertha
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Uptempo but not rushed, effervescent, and clean as a whistle. There are a ton of great May '77 Berthas, and this is one of them. Don't miss it.
Friend of the Devil
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Keith’s smoooooth chromatic scale entry into his solo must be heard to be believed.
One More Saturday Night
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theatre

Apparently the version on the box set is from 5/28/77, as the 5/13 tape was irreparably damaged. The Archive links are truly 5/13, though.