headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

4
Ramble On Rose
Oct. 21, 1971
Auditorium Theatre

Keith's second show & he's all over this faster paced super fun honky tonk version!
5
The Weight
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

This is really the best one I've heard--everyobody nails their parts/lyrics...great piano fills on the side (yay, Bruce!). Just exactly, etc.
20
Althea
Sept. 9, 1982
Saenger Performing Arts Center

Incredible. Check out Brent's fills during the epic post-lyrics outro. A must-listen top tier Althea w/bounce, power, & panache!
17
Deal
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Apparently no one is aware that a fellow named Keith played in this band or this version would have 50 votes already. Needs to be heard!
1
Pretty Peggy O
Sept. 4, 1980
Providence Civic Center

Outside of 1977 this may be the best version I've heard. A+ vocals from Jerry, killer mid-solo; slightly faster tempo. Must hear. Gr8 Matrix!
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 10, 1981
Madison Square Garden

All the love given to 90s versions on this site b/c they are so long baffles me when there are equally long (& far better played & jammed) versions from the largely overlooked early 80s to be enjoyed, and this is exhibit A. If you need a SBD version to get you to listen here's the Miller: https://archive.org/details/gd1981-03-10.sbd-set2.miller.91764.flac16/gd81-03-10d2t02.flac Get on this, please.
Cassidy
April 24, 1978
Horton Field House - Illinois State University

^^^^ I'm starting to wonder if they left the final verse out on purpose a few times this year b/c it's also absent on 5/14/78 featured on 30 Trips (another outstanding version btw).
Alligator
Jan. 3, 1970
Fillmore East

The jam on this one is out of this world. Slinky slow tempo to open the verses sung by Pig and then some drums into just a phenomenal jam section that also includes a fairly deep China Cat tease into the coda normally reserved for GDTRFB and then feedback. Easy plus one here.
Dark Star
Jan. 2, 1970
Fillmore East (Late Show)

It's the brief addition of cowbell around :22 in that gets my upvote, But in all seriousness, even though official releases always get a bump in the standings, this one deserves it. Even the requisite space section, which morphs from near complete silence to some TC spaceship sounds, doesn't detract from the excellent overall musical output. Very sweet star.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 2, 1981
The Spectrum

Young Dog knows his stuff. '81 is indeed a great year for exploratory S>F's...some are a little rough around the edges but in terms of thick, colorful, chance-taking jams esp. in transition to Fire, there are a lot from this year under-appreciated on the board. This is definitely one of them. Try also Lehigh 9/25/81.
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