headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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

I Need A Miracle
Oct. 21, 1978
Winterland Arena

Make it 2. Gritty gutsy version. (Overlooked song in general. Also make sure to check out 1-10-79 at Nassau)
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 13, 1983
Patrick Gymnasium, U of Vermont

Sensational version in bad need of a clean SBD.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
June 18, 1983
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

@cgarces Yes, I know the feeling. We are all lucky to have so many great recordings of shows available but it only makes the ones we don't have (and that are great performances) that much more desirable. Another good (maybe even better, actually) example of this can be found further down the list with 4-13-83 at UVM. It's an absolutely phenomenal Scarlet-Fire but you gotta deal with the AUDS available and some of it sadly gets lost in the translation.
Playin' In The Band
Nov. 18, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

Regarding "cleaner" copies of this amazing version, I think there is a fairly recent Charlie miller pitch-corrected version on the archive. It's not as pristine a recording as we may like but it's pretty damn good and may be the best-sounding recording available. So worth it. As everyone here has said, this version is legendary and does rival Veneta, if not perhaps surpassing it in some ways.
Bird Song
Dec. 9, 1981
Activity Center - University of Colorado

Doesn't reach some of the epic jam crescendos as other 80's versions but it is quite beautiful and lovingly sung by jerry and gets my up vote also b/c 1981 is often overlooked. Also make sure to check out the china-rider from this show which could very well be the best of the decade.
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