headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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MrMystery

Dead on arrival

+2490


Submissions

3
Big River
Jan. 11, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Jerry and Bobby are great here. Burning.
4
U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
Dec. 21, 1978
The Summit

Easily the best version of this song I've ever heard. Listen to how Jerry sings!
3
Friend of the Devil
Dec. 21, 1978
The Summit

If shows with great sounding SBs are overrated, the opposite is true. Jerry is burning this night and his solo here is spectacular.
4
New Minglewood Blues
Dec. 17, 1978
Fox Theatre

One of the best versions of this era. Jerry is loose and free. Bobby plays a great slide solo (really).
1
Terrapin Station
Dec. 15, 1978
Boutwell Auditorium

The transition jam is longer than previous versions and many later ones, and Jerry goes somewhere in it. That should have happened more.

Comments

Supplication
June 27, 1985
SPAC

Very interesting Supplication jam. Jerry wants to play Lazy Lightning and repeatedly goes into the opening riff. Bob clearly does not. The friction is fascinating. Phil bridges the gap.
Sugaree
Oct. 15, 1984
Civic Center

This is one of those angry Jerry performances that occurred so often in the '80s. He really burns it up.
When I Paint My Masterpiece
June 17, 1991
Giants Stadium

Bobby's vox are particularly good
The Other One
April 24, 1984
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

1984 is an underappreciated year. This Other One is awesome. Phil is all over the place. Builds up to a dark, powerful peak
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

There is no perfect Scarlet-Fire and that's why the Dead are the Dead. However, this one is the best. For me there are three reasons: Mickey's three-beat drum roll signaling the beginning of the tune in dramatic, emphatic fashion; Phil's slides in the intro and playing throughout; and Jerry's first solo in Fire. In particular, everything from 15:41 to the end of the solo, 17:02. I've listened to many, many, many hours of Grateful Dead music and the epitome of Jerry as a player are in that not-quite minute and a half. In my opinion.