headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

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.
14
The Other One
May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre

Not sure why everyone ignores '77 versions, but you're missing out if you haven't heard this one. Power packed Jerry-led fury.
4
Spanish Jam
May 21, 1995
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl

In the band's worst year they somehow came up with a really short but spot-on SJ that emerges nicely out of space. Ignore the date-check out the tune.
4
It Must Have Been The Roses
March 13, 1981
Utica Coliseum

Seek out the SBD (unknown lineage) then bask in what's possibly the best-sung, most heartfelt & lovely "Roses" ever.
54
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

It's criminal that this hasn't made the list yet. Like super-smooth '77 versions? You MUST hear this.
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Comments

Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Barn burner for sure. Best of the year is still 6/8/77 but this one comes close.
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Barn burner for sure. Best of the year is still 6/8/77 but this one comes close.
Shakedown Street
Aug. 31, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Sounds almost like the album version but indeed very tight, short, and sweet. Not up voting only b/c I don't think being first necessarily means "heady", but for sheer historical interest this is fun to hear.
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

One of the better AUDs you'll ever hear is available for this killer '79 that I can't in good faith let linger at 2 measly votes. Don't tell me this one ain't got no heart, you just gotta poke around. Trust.
Dark Star
March 23, 1972
Academy of Music

Struggled with whether to upvote this given a fairly heavy section devoted to dissonance but it's not as annoying as most and actually maintains a forward progression rather than slowing down the proceedings and the jams that emerge, as many have pointed out already are spectacular and unique among Dark Stars of this or any era. Ultimately it's an underrated version with a closing section just before the 2d verse that needs to be heard to be believed. +1
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