headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

37
Promised Land
Sept. 18, 1990
Madison Square Garden

New #1 version--all time best. This is a stretched-out jam-fest for a song usually given the quick-off. Killer fills from Hornsby. MUST HEAR!
6
Sugar Magnolia
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

Incredible Sugary-Mag Club sandwich: Sugar>BlackPeter>Round&Round>SSDD. Energy off the charts, and the SSDD starts spot-on the downbeat from R&R
13
Big River
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

Scorcher start to finish. Keith comes up big, and Jerry goes ballistic in the final instrumental bridge. Check it out on Dave's Pix Vol. 2
45
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theatre

Just when you think you've heard 'em all...Peppy&Zippy yet tight HELP >groovy-spacedout Slip>killer jumping-Jerry-led Franklins. Must Hear!
44
Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

From the show that never stops giving--a spacey-jazzy-goeey-Wah-Wah-chunk-fest-of-Jerry.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 30, 1979
Stanley Theater

Maybe someone else knows a version that features this, but I sure don't. The bonus jam is lengthy and indeed hot and just when you think for all the world they're coming out of it with "Wind in the willows", instead it's "Aint nothin' right but I've never been wrong" with everyone on cue! It's truly the only time i've ever heard them do this...then after that you get a shorter but still nice jam prior to "wind in the willows". Not sure if this was all by design or adjustments made on the fly. Probably the latter, but unique version for sure.
Brown Eyed Women
Nov. 4, 1977
Cotterell Gym - Colgate University

Jerry finishes the last line "and it looks like the old man's gettin' on..." and then adds "yes it does." Sweet version indeed.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Sept. 10, 1991
Madison Square Garden

Grossly underrated. Branford sounds like he's been playing this one his whole career. Bruce is right on, and Phil is driving the train. Tight and energetic--best 90's version i've ever heard.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 1, 1979
Holleder Memorial Stadium

Please clear the area--this FIRE has gone completely out of control.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 11, 1977
St. Paul Civic Center Arena

Glad you re-visited this one. So many great shows in May '77 this one easily gets overshadowed (so does 5/13, Chicago), and this Scarlet>Fire bears the price. I think this one is Top 5 for the year, easy.