headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.
11
One More Saturday Night
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Like every other song from this, my favorite all-time show, it's a best-of candidate. Just rocks hard.
2
Alabama Getaway
Dec. 5, 1979
Uptown Theater

Come for the 'Bama but stay for the rest of the show. This rocker 'Bama is Jerry and Brent at their very best. This entire show, tho', is a monster.
13
Stagger Lee
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Right after Phil tells a guy to get off the blacony cuz 50,000 people are waiting for him to, and Bob does the dog nose joke, Jer rips into a fine SL!
8
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1989
The Spectrum

Pretty good China followed by the best 80's OR 90's RIDER I've ever heard. Check Jer's run going into "sun gonna shine" verse. 5 stars fo RIDER alone.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 20, 1981
Rainbow Theater

Total winner right here--thick, jammy Scarlet with a fantastic transition into a rippin' Fire. Sounds amazing on the new release. Rhythm Devils especially come out slugging in the end coda jam to fire - sick slick version right here that deserves to shoot way up the ladder
They Love Each Other
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Bump needed here. It's understandable how this could get lost in a sea of great versions from this year but this one's worthy of seeking out. Perfect funky pacing and a great jam in the middle. Jer plays w/the bridge lyric a bit: "every song I'm singing I heard it first from you" instead of the usual line. Should at least be dub-digits here.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Aug. 5, 1979
Oakland Auditorium Arena

weaknesses in the Scarlet yes, but upping this because I can't recall another version in which the transition into Fire recalls the main Scarlet theme so prominently and once they get into Fire Jerry gets down to it with some great fuzzy gritty notes on the intro and everyone else kinda falls into that sweet Fire pocket--unique for sure as NFA sez and worth a boost on the board
Row Jimmy
Sept. 9, 1974
Alexandra Palace

^^^^Not necessarily "more" relaxing but for being definitely in that sweet/mellow wheelhouse I'd recommend 9/18/74 and the lesser known but equally as beautiful 7/25/74
Ramble On Rose
Feb. 1, 1978
Uptown Theatre

More proof this board works. Never knew of this version (much less what looks like a pretty cool show--i'll have to dive in) until i saw the recent recs--much thanks--and yeah this is a grand ol' Jerry having a blast belting it out barn burner with the hard edged rock em sock em rhythm devils backing you got in '78. 2 pretty nice board sources available too--worth checking out
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