headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
4
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
34
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.
4
Ramble On Rose
Dec. 30, 1977
Winterland Arena

Faster than usual tempo with just a brilliant Jerry bridge jam and no missed lyrics make this one a not-to-be-missed version.
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Comments

Althea
March 21, 1981
Rainbow Theatre

so much higher this should be on the board. Great slinky groove & the whole band--not just Garcia--rocks the house on the outro. '81 Altheas rule--this needs to move on up!
Uncle John's Band
June 30, 1974
Civic Center

Best kept UJB secret of 1974 right here. Come for the tiny snippet of Slipknot jam but stay for the beautifully sung, flowing, relaxed, jammed-out magnificence of a version that emerges from the chaos of a raucous PITB meltdown and back into a sweet reprise. This whole show is an under the radar masterpiece
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 26, 1973
Kezar Stadium

This version has the X factor, the little twists and turns that set it apart from its many great counterparts of the year and era. As many have said here the shorter Feelin' Groovy Jam really works in the less is more sense but mostly it's the relaxed, confident tone Jerry takes on his turns and Bob's really outstanding counter rhythms that make this one shine. Sounds even better with new boxed set clean ups...deserves to move up the ladder.
Althea
Feb. 26, 1981
Uptown Theater

Great end jam & if you don't get bothered by Garcia lyrical miscues, go ahead and upvote. But the mumblecore thing keeps me from sending this one up the ladder. Too bad b/c Jer does shed the end jam...it's just that there are many other versions (5/1/81 just for starters) where he does the same but doesn't butcher the words.
Let It Grow
Dec. 5, 1981
Market Square Arena

If you've heard the masterful 5/1/81 version & loved it you'll fall head over heels for this one, too...just about its equal and that's saying something. Garcia is lightning on this but in total control and the rest of the band is just in heavy beast mode, letting up on the throttle only to ease seamlessly into the two quiet drifting sections like a feather on a gentle breeze. Superior rendition.
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