headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

grendel

Books and Music

+24560


Submissions

48
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.
26
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!"
20
Eyes Of The World
April 3, 1982
The Scope

Unlike nearly every other '80's version, this one isn't all speeded out and rushed; instead it's groovy, jazzy, intricate, very pretty for its time
19
Promised Land
Nov. 11, 1973
Winterland Arena

Yep...too rocking a tune to be ignored. Hard to beat this one, especially as kick-off of trio: Promised>Bertha>GSET
46
Fire On The Mountain
July 13, 1985
Ventura County Fairgrounds

Extremely rare stand-alone "Fire"...2nd song, first set, and a real barn-burner!

Comments

Althea
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

This version gets a cameo in the form of a clearly labeled 5-1-81 rolling cassette tape in the new "Long Strange Trip" documentary. Al Franken talks up 5/16/80 at Nassau and the unseen interviewer touts this as his favorite. They play bits of each. They're both worthy.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
June 21, 1971
Chateau d'Herouville

Great, crisp, recording from the new soundtrack. Fantastic Garcia vocals in this one, and a real confident romp through the jamming sections and the transition, which you can sense them feeling out for all its newness, and while it doesn't go the places it would in 73 and 74 it is fascinating to hear an early rendition giving hints to those epic versions to come. Well worth seeking out!
The Other One
Oct. 30, 1977
Assembly Hall - Indiana University

I hear you, CK. There are so many fantastic versions of tunes languishing at the bottom of the ladder and this is one of them. I suspect this great rendition suffers from the bias people have against any Other One that's not 30 minutes long and was played after 1974. It's a shame because they played so damn well in 1977 and just because they shortened the length of the tune doesn't mean it should get overlooked. If anything they honed it down and cut out a lot of the excess fat that actually drags down some of those revered 71-72 versions. I don't need a meandering random Phil solo or a bunch of space feedback for a good TOO. Give me Jerry's blazing leads and the hard backing of the double drums and Phil's rolling intros any day. This one from a great and largely overlooked 77 show delivers.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater

^^^^ Let me know when you find those other versions--I'd be curious to check them out!
Shakedown Street
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

^^^^ It does, and you're right. Won't get as much notice as the barn-burner versions but it should.