headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catalonia

neshaminy

+2082


Submissions

3
Deal
Oct. 10, 1981
Stadt Halle

Incendiary second solo becomes delicate and beautiful before they build the final refrain.
9
Deal
Oct. 4, 1981
Rainbow Theater

You can't compare 70s Deals w/ late 1980 onward. There's a four minute shredded 2nd solo on this one that wasn't a part of Deal in its 1st decade.
3
Deal
Sept. 25, 1980
Warfield Theater

This is the first one with the second solo, revamped for the 15th anniversary.
7
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Jan. 8, 1979
Madison Square Garden

Pre rio grandeo is good, but there are two peaks post rio grandeo, one built off the other and the latter crashes into Franklin's Tower.
2
Stella Blue
May 13, 1981
Civic Center

A fluttery and lyrical solo after the bridge and then an autobiography of an outro. There is a video on YouTube.
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Comments

Loser
July 12, 1987
Giants Stadium

It's the opener. Voodoonola put the show on YouTube. This one deserves a look.
Scarlet Begonias
May 23, 1982
Greek Theatre, U. Of California

It's the scarlet that makes this one - and the transition.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 23, 1982
Greek Theatre, U. Of California

This is awesome. The Scarlet solo and the transition are both great. There are better fires, but this one is serviceable. Let me put it this way: I'm serviced. This is the best version of a song I've learned about from this site. It's way better than 5 votes.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 1, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

I hadn't heard this until about 5 years ago. I don't think I will ever tire of this one the way I have with some others. (I'm looking at you May 21, 1977.) This epic version begins at a slow tempo - it's mellow, in fact. I love the first few notes of the scarlet solo - some beautiful notes way up the fret board. There's a lot going on in the transition - it's not sweet and beautiful like April 24, 1978, for instance. This one is dark, but colorful.
Deal
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

I've known the SF from this show for a while, but I didn't know the Deal until I saw that it was up on the list here. There's good reason. That second solo is amazing. Edit: I did not think that a Deal could top this one, but 5/1/81 is just better. Still, second place is pretty good. I cannot see the post-coma versions touching these two (I know that's an unpopular sentiment around here) - or any of the 70s (even less popular) as they don't have the second solo that begins shortly before this version (9/25/80). I've now listened to most of the 80-83 Deals and I've yet to find others that I think involve consideration alongside these two, but I'm still looking.
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