headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


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

The Music Never Stopped
May 26, 1977
Baltimore Civic Center

Props to your Baltimore, DS67, & props to this excellent, overlooked show. High energy MNS here & this show's also worth checking out for a searing GDTRFB and a generally high octane 2nd set.
They Love Each Other
Dec. 18, 1993
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Wow/Yes/Underrated The acoustic sound works so beautifully here. Def. makes up for Jerry's '93 vocal weaknesses. If you want an off the beaten path version of this awesome 1st set tune look no further.
Dire Wolf
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A) This is a great DW. I should have upped it earlier, B) As to the discussion about posting multiple versions of same songs, I don't mind that too much. I've long ago given up on believing that these rankings/comments are always reflecting "the best" of any one version. What I find most helpful is when some one tells me WHY this version deserves an upgrade or is better than one ahead of it. I look for descriptions and perspectives from the other heads here to parse out versions I may have otherwise overlooked.
Bird Song
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

^^^^Agreed. A perfect BirdSong year with so many gems to choose from...the challenge is to parse out the subtle differences of each and find the moments that make the individual performances stand out.
Here Comes Sunshine
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

^^^^That’s a mighty fine list. Point taken about the spacey quality on some of those Nov. ‘73 versions ... it is weird how they dropped it as you said just when it was hitting stride.
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