headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

41
Sugar Magnolia
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Best ever. No fooling. Don't miss Mickey and Billy dueling each other at the frenzied end jam before heading into SSDD. Whole version insane!
80
Jack Straw
Oct. 20, 1984
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Crazy hard driving insanisty to end the first set. One of those jam segments that builds and builds and KABOOMS into final verse. Phil fans: a must
15
Stella Blue
April 19, 1982
Baltimore Civic Center

Sweet & melty....gorgeous harmonies from Brent.
88
Sugaree
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

1977 was a helluva year for this song. I have no quarrel w/ 5/5, 5/19, or 5/21, but I think this one beats 'em all by a nose!
53
St. Stephen
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

With all due rfespect to Barton Hall & others, this is the best version out there (IMO). Bluesy, rockin', jammin', just exactly perfect
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Comments

Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
May 12, 1980
Boston Garden

Yes, this whole show is amazing and underrated. The Caution Jam out of He's Gone is a monster! Agree with you that this LL>Supp combo tops Go To Nassau, which is hard to do.
Eyes Of The World
May 5, 1978
Thompson Arena - Dartmouth College

Did I forget to mention the beautiful, super-lengthy intro that has Jerry playing some of the jazziest Eyes notes ever? I did? The rest is pretty damn impressive, too. Hey, I can't vote for my own entry, but c'mon, folks....2 votes? It's May '78. Give it a listen.
Eyes Of The World
April 12, 1978
Cameron Indoor Stadium

On a quest to bump up every sadly underrated version of this song on the Big Board. Starting here.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 7, 1978
Field House - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Back to give this one some more love. The vocal coda in last verse of Fire may be the very best they ever did. Everyone's into it and singing in rounds and it's fantastic. Then Jerry shreds out the last instrumental bit before the Scarlet return. This whole version Scarlet to Fire is phenomenal. May be the best of '78 or at least right up there with the beasts of April.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 23, 1977
Springfield Civic Center

Another version I've listened to forever but took for granted in voting for, but recent re-listening has given me a new appreciation. Super energized "Scarlet" (check out Jerry growling out "aint nothin wrong with the way she moves" line) & the sweet transition features Donna gently cooing, not caterwauling, into a mind meld Fire segue and then Jerry really does some magic from intro on out. Take off half a point for flubbing the last verse, but it's not egregious and he does that more often than not anyway. Definitely could be higher on this list.
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