headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

28
Playin' In The Band
May 11, 1972
Rotterdam Civic Hall

Sometimes shorter is better. At around 10 mins. this beauty from E'72 packs the jazz, jam, passion. Like a more intense version of the one on ACE!
26
Scarlet Begonias
Oct. 3, 1976
Cobo Arena

No clean SBD on archive but at official Dead site a pristine version was on 30 days of Dead for DL. 2d best stand-alone I've heard next to 3-20-77
66
Pretty Peggy O
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

DP Vol. 29...Each time I think I've heard the best (i.e. 12/27/77) I hear one better. This is it. Flowing, gorgeous Jerry bridge jam. Perfection.
4
Don't Ease Me In
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Proves the boys could really swing when they wanted to. Hear Jerry on "The Girl I Love" line; like 'Gator Alley--1980 a good year for this tune
32
Not Fade Away
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Insane. Ridiculous. Drummers locked in, Garcia in take-no-prisoners mode. 16+ minutes of full-bore Rock to the G-D Roll.
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Comments

Row Jimmy
April 12, 1978
Cameron Indoor Stadium

Needs more votes. There is no other version in which the band collectively takes the 2nd bridge jam into such frenzied yet controlled jamming. 3-20-77 is probably the only one that beats it. Must-hear.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 1, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

This can be found on Dicks Picks #13 as a hidden track...very interesting transition jam--while it doesn't build to the crescendo that many others do, it gets into very spacey, Brent-led elements that are pretty mesmerizing. Unique version, if not a "best", certainly worth exploring.
Aiko Aiko
Sept. 14, 1982
University of Virginia

Jerry's lead on the intro, a relaxed but focused 2-minute groove makes this IKO one of the best I've ever heard. Very different from the more speeded-up late 80's versions--more relaxed--but not as slow and somewhat plodding as were the first few late 70's versions. Nice meld of the 2 styles.
Stella Blue
March 21, 1994
Richfield Coliseum

I just got schooled that not everything in '94/'95 sucked. Best damn version of Stella I've ever heard. Thanks for setting me straight.
Loser
July 22, 1984
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Jam into final verse is rivaled only by 3-24-90. This and that version are neck and neck.
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