headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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quinn_76

thunder mtn

+1585


Submissions

1
Loser
Oct. 30, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

Best Loser you haven’t heard yet! Jerry takes the solo for an extra walk around the block! Required listening folks!
1
Candyman
March 7, 1981
Cole Field House

Jerry’s tone is just impeccable here! Moreover, Jerry adds a tad more umph to the soulful vocals. A standout of the era!
2
Big River
Oct. 21, 1973
Omaha Civic Auditorium

Blazing version, but I nominated it primarily for its placement within the context of the tasty Playin'->Half-Step->Big River->Playin' sandwich.
3
Deal
June 30, 1973
Universal Amphitheatre

Jerry's pipes never sounded sweeter, and Keith's barrel-house piano chops complements perfectly!
6
Deal
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Deserves mention.

Comments

Loser
March 24, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

One of the very best of the era for sure, but the best for all time? I don't think so. But I'm more partial to earlier eras of the Dead. Its arguments like these that bring to light the certain preexisting biases individuals bring before voting on "best ever" versions. I prefer earlier, pastoral versions like 8/6/71 and 2/26/73, and stately versions like 5/19/77 and 12/29/77. Tonight's version, from a technical, jam heavy, and emotive standpoint arguably beat my favorite versions. But I won't vote for it because I simply don't like the 1990s Dead sound nearly as much as the 1970s Dead sound. And therein lies the problem. We vote for what we like, not necessarily what we really think is the best. Are they mutually exclusive? I don't think they have to be. Music is subjective, objectively speaking!
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

A stellar opening for a stellar show!
Sing Me Back Home
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

just beautiful. Caps off a splendid second set.
Truckin'
March 24, 1973
The Spectrum

Agree with 'coralsand' here. This tight and charged Truckin' later segues into a blues tinged jam that turns into a jazz tinged jam. From there Phil takes the spotlight before the boys move into the Spanish Jam. Next they traverse into a spacey jam before finally landing into a Dark Star that all of four minutes long! It hardly matters, because the sequence taken as a whole amounts to a half hour of prime '73 Dead.
Playin' In The Band
March 22, 1973
Utica Memorial Auditorium

Stellar version. Listen to Phil's beetling thumps starting at the 7:00 minute mark!