headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+23534


Submissions

13
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.
52
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.
13
Gloria
Oct. 16, 1981
Melkweg

Bobby's birthday at the world famous Melkeweg. Yummy brownies make this version extra special.
show more submissions

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 26, 1981
Oakland Auditorium

Grossly underrated at less than double digits at the time of this posting. Those who have commented already are among the most astute posters & some are among the toughest/most brutally honest as well. Should tell you the current ranking is a disservice to the rendition & I urge y'all to listen & give this some well deserved ups. As noted a very crunchy Miller SBD copy awaits. Great exploratory '81 jamming here in both tunes and Brent fans in particular should sing his praises for the work he does in the transition jam...very much the case in the best '81 versions.
Brokedown Palace
May 16, 1993
Sam Boyd Silver Bowl

Happily surprised out how good this is. The trick seems to be that Garcia understands the limitations of his '93 vox & instead of trying to hit notes he can't he changes his phrasing to fit a breezier reading...less gospel, but still extremely heartfelt and tenderly beautiful. Strong band involvement overall too...deserves its upper spot on the ladder here although at first i was skeptical.
Shakedown Street
Aug. 21, 1980
Uptown Theatre

Paging Dr. FunkenMellow...give me a shot of Jerry wah-wah stat! Grossly underrated version from the always jumpin' Chicago Uptown.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 22, 1978
Winterland Arena

Great Seamons matrix of this transferred by CM available now & totally worth it. Agree not every S>F has to be a rager to be heady--this one is a mind meld that would get a raised eyebrow from Spock. https://archive.org/details/gd1978-10-22.mtx.seamons.99496.sbeok.flac16/gd78-10-22d3t04.flac
Let It Grow
Dec. 16, 1992
Oakland Coliseum Arena

No reason this shouldn't be way higher on the ladder. Latvala thought enough of this show to make it a pick & this is a highly jammed version with less midi than usual for the era (a good thing, that) & a spacey section in the mid-jam that adds a lot to the mix. One of the stronger 90s entries and probably the best of '92.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)