Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Jan. 31, 1978
Uptown Theater
Second-best version ever. Ever. And it’s not close; this is peak Scarlet. 1/31 and 4/24 are where it’s at. As I write this, it’s ranked #78. (((Sigh))). Not a well-known show.
An all-time hidden Jerry gem. He sings the verses out of order, vis-a-vis the solo, which seems to be because they are vibing so hard - and it works out spectacularly! - and it’s one of the sweetest runs you’ll ever hear. Listen to the Charlie Miller mix, and between 2:40-4:10 mins he lays down an unparalleled solo you’ve not heard in any other version. And the Devils are fully vibing the slow reggae tempo changes with the faster tempo (but not too fast, like 2/5!). The entire band may be the most in sync I’ve ever heard them at the apex of his last solo. Yes, you read that right: the synergy between erry’body is beyond in-the-pocket - it *is* the pocket!
