headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+23519


Submissions

10
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Transition jam weaves into spaces most fail to go; touch-down into Fire is GOLD. Jerry flubs first line in Fire-after that: 1 of the BEST ever!
19
He's Gone
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Perfect, self-contained, blues-infused, stellar vocals, 14+ minutes of bliss. Extra fun: Check out the "Birdsong" riff about 10 secs. into the intro
35
Dark Star
Sept. 16, 1972
Boston Music Hall

Amazed this isn't here yet Gorgeous, melodic, jazz-infused, mellow, trippy, spacey into hard ripping Jerry riffs; melts into Brokedown Palace. Sublime
47
Cold Rain and Snow
Oct. 12, 1984
Augusta Civic Center

Kicks off with authority a 2d set every DeadHead needs to hear. Perfect bookend to Jerry's scorching Dew. They say it was cold&rainy that nite in ME.
25
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Feb. 4, 1978
Milwaukee Auditorium

Can't beat this one. Played w/out a hitch, Jerry nails all the lyrics, and when it's over Phil says: "And that's a true story, folks!"
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Comments

Ramble On Rose
March 23, 1972
Academy of Music

Phil's deep rhythmic opening bass salvo, as thick and solid and propulsive as you'll ever hear on a ROR was enuff for my upvote, and the rest is pretty dang hot too. Easy plus one.
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 13, 1994
Madison Square Garden

Crazy good fuzz guitar faster paced kick ass version getting very little traction & undeservedly so. Check it out. Whole show is somehow under the sonar.
Candyman
April 15, 1978
William and Mary College Hall

Not sure if Jerry & Donna ever sounded better together than they do on this version of Candyman, and Garcia's solos are at once delicate & deep, ---about as perfect a version as you'll find in any era and I'd have no problem seeing this in top 3-5 ranking...just spectacular.
The Other One
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

Folks tend to skip versions from '77 b/c they tend to be shorter & less "epic" than earlier years but it would be a mistake to pass this one by. The rhythm devils in particular bring this one into focus beautifully with a grand lead up to Phil's signature roaring bass intro and it's Jerry off to the races after that. Really fine version from a show better known for its other big tunes like an all-time Sugaree in the first set, but again, this is a real sleeper Other One
Greatest Story Ever Told
Nov. 4, 1979
Civic Center

Not like all the others--a distinctively different start out of the gate that features the mid-jam stop-jump-start-again riff, then takes off like a bat outta heck w/Bobby just chawin' thru the lyrics like he means it. Segues out from a pretty sweet Getaway, too...worth the ups, folks!
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