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

Dark Star
Feb. 24, 1974
Winterland Arena

Digging this much more with the excellent sound reproduction from Dap 13...as said above many different themes are explored and it retains a musicality throughout with no major digressions into feedback or aimless noodling, which is refreshingly welcomed in a year in which Dark Stars often got indulgently space-sloppy. Gets my upvote.
St. Stephen
Jan. 22, 1978
McArthur Court, U of Oregon

@Freedom yes, this show is pretty special. They've maintained some of that precision you got all thru 1977 but are beginning to stretch those hard rock boundaries that would come to define '78 with sometimes awesome, other times sloppy, results. I dig this version of St. but to me it doesn't hold up nearly as well as 10/29/77...the mid-jam everyone raves about is unique, but to me doesn't really jell or keep a focus like 10/29/77 does....still, I understand and have no problem--objectively-- w/its ranking here....it misses my upvote only b/c of my admitted bias that 10/29/77 is so much better and is so much lower on the ladder.
The Weight
March 28, 1990
Nassau Coliseum

@Patch I certainly thought this was the debut! Can you point us to the 1970 version? was it a gig they played w/the Band & others? Very curious!
Brown Eyed Women
May 14, 1978
Providence Civic Center

Fluid, lengthy bridge jam by Jerry and an overall exceptional version for a song mostly associated with excellence from the year previous..but this one can stand with many of the greats.
Ramble On Rose
Sept. 26, 1981
Buffalo Auditorium

Really great version from a waaaaayyy underrated show. Get the CM upgrade and check this out.
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