headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
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Comments

Passenger
Oct. 25, 1979
New Haven Coliseum

It has no equal. Best they ever did.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 19, 1981
Sports Palace

The last two Jerry solos in "Fire"....I mean, damn. Just, damn.
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Aug. 10, 1982
Iowa Fieldhouse - University of Iowa

Grate version from a terrific '82 gem.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 14, 1973
San Diego International Sports Arena

Will have to agree to disagree on this one. They butcher just about every tempo transition , not to mention the lyrics on the final verse. The whole band seems out of step with one another on this version...go back and listen to some of the truly ugly " I got it, you take it" handoffs. There are some nice moments of course and Jerry rips off some great riffs as you'd expect on this tune , but compared with some of the really tight performances in '73 available I'd have this one way farther down the list if on it at all . I apologize for my curmudgeonly tone here but I gotta call it like I see it. It appears tho that I'm the only one shaking my fist ;-)
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 30, 1980
Fox Theatre

First I thought "yeah, it's great for the 80's, but really can't compete with those killer versions from '72 and '73", but then I thought "so what? That doesn't mean it isn't still great", so here's my up vote.
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