headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

33
Little Red Rooster
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

All about Brent.
2
Drums
June 4, 1978
Campus Stadium - University Of California

Part of a very hardcore rock and roll 2nd set. HEAVY wailing Drums>Space>NFA w/motorcycle revs.
8
Beat it on Down The Line
May 16, 1972
Theatre Hall

Another Europe '72 tour winner. Bobby sez "Rock on out" for the bridge jam and Jerry obliges.
25
Ramble On Rose
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

Just discovered this one, available on archive as outtakes that didn't make the DP release. Simply put, it kicks ass.
8
Doin' That Rag
June 14, 1969
Monterey Performing Arts Center

Always a tough tune for the band to pull off but here they do it with authority. Jerry nails the vocals w/gusto!

Comments

Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
April 30, 1977
The Palladium

This really is crazy good. I never realized how much until I got the DL version. It's a flawless rendition w/belted Jerry vocals & w/several great heady jams--not QUITE on par w/the splashdowns you get on 11/6/77 but up there w/5/25/77, 5/7/77 and 5/17/77 to name a few other winners. Top 5 all time for sure. Listen and bump it.
Jack Straw
May 7, 1977
Boston Garden

Nice underrated version from the old Gah-den.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 31, 1984
Marin County Civic Center

Proves you can still find great Scarlet>Fires even far down on the list. Brent is all over this sleeper version, especially on "Fire", and the whole pairing is a jammed out gem. Get out of the usual suspects comfort zone and into this hidden treasure version.
Eyes Of The World
Nov. 30, 1973
Boston Music Hall

Been re-appreciating DP14 lately and this version of Eyes is THE highlight of the entire 4-disc set, which is saying quite a bit given how good both shows are. Long, flowing, jazzy, liquid-like Eyes. Up there with the very best of '73, and perhaps even the best of them all,
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 22, 1990
Copps Coliseum

It's a great version among those that went deep into MIDI territory but it's a non-starter for those of us who couldn't stand that sound. If I wanted to hear the Dead with a flute I'd rather they'd invited Ian Anderson on stage to jam with them. It's just a huge waste of opportunity (in my opinion) to have Jerry shred for a large portion of this great song and have it come out sounding like something a bad synthesizer produced rather than his glorious-sounding guitar. I understand they were trying to "update" their sound for the 90's and I appreciate that, but I think it's an experiment that fell short.