headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

49
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

There are longer versions, but none has a better bridge jam than this one. My favorite version ever--must listen!
88
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Hard-charging drumming from Billy leads the way. Best MLB jam in this pairing I've ever heard. Hard to believe it wasn't listed yet.
37
Cassidy
Oct. 12, 1983
Madison Square Garden

Intense build-up jam, perfect touch-down. Weir absolutely nails it. My favorite version all-time
21
Shakedown Street
Jan. 10, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Laser-focused, perfect rendition, start to finish. Super-funky with awesome Jerry fuzz-guitar, rock-blues jamming post-vocals
12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

^^^ With 5 stars being the best, this is a 4-star version easily. If you're grading on a curve and taking into account the post-90's decline, you could bump it to 4 1/2 and I wouldn't complain. I'm a true believer for this version.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

Take maybe a half point off for Jerry's typically croaky '91 vocals, but musically, this is a delight. As noted, Hornsby goes jazz jam all over this version...he's clearly adding color and filling space in ways that are truly rare...this happens in both the meat of Scarlet, the transition to Fire, and while Jerry takes over in Fire as the stand-out, Bruce doesn't miss a beat in providing the perfect back-drop. I'm really hard to please when it comes to nearly anything post-1990 so believe me when I say this version can stand proud with many at or near the top of this list. At the very least it deserves to have more than 20 votes, but sits under-appreciated at 12 as I write this, including the one I just added. Let's up this puppy, please.
Fire On The Mountain
July 13, 1985
Ventura County Fairgrounds

^^^Well acquainted with the story being here in the Green Mountain State. Assuming you are as well? VT Dead Heads unite!
Fire On The Mountain
July 13, 1985
Ventura County Fairgrounds

^^^ Stone Hut up on Mt. Mansfield? If so, yes, it will return!
Samson and Delilah
Dec. 31, 1976
Cow Palace

It's really grown on me and mostly because it's so different than the familiar versions that would follow in 1977 and stay basically the same thereafter...the funky loping intro in this one is so perfect and they don't miss a beat getting into it and Bobby is just roaring out the vocals. Top 3 for me.