headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catalonia

neshaminy

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Submissions

4
The Music Never Stopped
April 14, 1978
Cassell Coliseum - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Bob blows some lyrics, but the midsection and outro are fluent and soaring. Lot on the list not as good as this one.
2
Uncle John's Band
Dec. 31, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

Excellent rendition with available A video and sound on youtube through music vault.
2
The Music Never Stopped
Oct. 29, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

Honorable mention on the old dead clubhouse page, but not on here. There's a youtube video with great sound. See for yourself.
4
Cassidy
Oct. 16, 1981
Melkweg

A unique sounding Cassidy. Parts of this almost sound like a studio release of a different band playing like the dead.
11
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 20, 1982
Madison Square Garden

MSG Scarlet Fire from the Fall of '82 - great transition.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

People may know but the people don't care
Scarlet Begonias
July 19, 1974
Selland Arena

The tone is unique for sure. That makes this a nice historical artifact, but this is not the best stand alone scarlet by a mile.
Sugaree
Oct. 17, 1983
Olympic Center

And by the way, this one is on Henrikson's Deadpod this week and next.
Sugaree
Oct. 17, 1983
Olympic Center

This one deserves its spot - it's the two above it with which I would disagree. I see that you feel about this one, buffalo virgo, like I do about 12/28/79. Spring 77 was a good time, but it's almost like you have to leave all of those versions out to get a sense of the real story. This is clearly one of the best of the early 80s. I think that 9/2/80 and 9/6/80 give 10/17/83 a run for its money, but I wouldn't try to change your mind. 4/23/84 isn't quite as good as any of those, but it's better than the June 80 Alaska version that has caught on here at headyversion. And I've already lain bare the bias I have for 12/28/79, which itself was 3 days away from the 1980s. There's got to be another one out there. Let me know if you find any others you like. I can always give a new 16 minute Sugaree a try - especially if it's an opener.
Sugaree
Dec. 28, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

#1 ever. This one is all about the first two solos. Both of them have incredible peaks and both back off into ethereal, wondrous episodes in which the music plays the band. Bobby plays slide in the second and he helps and does not hurt. It took me a day and a half to download this one back in 1999. That is how far we have come, my friends. Once I heard this version, it was the only one that would ever top my list.