headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24560


Submissions

12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
42
Ramble On Rose
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Gorgeous, incredible, up and down, carnival-like bridge jam by Jerry. Picture perfect version--no flaws
43
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

April '78 S>F's often mentioned are 4/16 and 4/24 (rightly so) but this one is every bit as good. Superior transition jam--, beautiful, & powerful
94
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Starts out Jazzy, explorative, takes its time, 3 minute intro, then blasts off into the stratosphere with intense Garcia-led jamming

Comments

China Doll
Dec. 29, 1977
Winterland Arena

I've never been a huge fan of this song and my favorite version is probably the acoustic from Reckoning but for any electric version this is by far the one I keep coming back to for beauty, flow, grace, and execution. What a show this is up and down the lineup!
Shakedown Street
Aug. 13, 1979
McNichols Arena

The more Shakedowns I spin from '79 the more convinced I am that the song was performed better and more consistently funky in this year than any other and this one from Denver is just the latest to make my personal list. Go immediately to the Miller SBD and get ready for Phil's insanely chunky thick fuzz bass bonanza!
Truckin'
May 19, 1974
Portland Memorial Coliseum

I still like 6/20/74 a shade better but really the difference is negligible. This is a triumph at every level.
Althea
Aug. 13, 1979
McNichols Arena

Got to be the weirdest version I've heard....and it's very good. Jerry doesn't so much forget the lyrics as he forgets how they're sung in relation to the music. I'm not explaining it well. You'll just have to listen and you'll see what I mean. In any event the jams are top notch and it's got that thick, deep '79 sound. +1
Deal
May 29, 1971
Winterland Arena

Slow, slinky, and sensational. You won't hear a version with Jerry in better vocal form than this one. Of course there's no shredder ending like the song added in the 80s but with these eras it's almost like a totally different song anyway and there's a damn fine blues solo by Garcia in this one so there's something for everyone here. For a great fledgling rendition it's hard to beat this gem.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)