headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Sept. 27, 1976
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Keith shines on a long, flowing intro section that spills into space-mellow Rat-Goodness
14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
5
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
38
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.
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Comments

New Speedway Boogie
July 14, 1970
Euphoria Ballroom

Perfect groove. Totally in the pocket + a lengthy outro jam.
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 26, 1972
Music Hall

Everyone says this or that Playin' is the "jazziest". No No No No No. THIS Playin' is the jazziest. Think "Bitches Brew" crossed with Phil channeling Mingus at Antibes, while Billy goes all Buddy Rich on the fast parts. Garcia brings his Wes Montgomery touch to the quieter sections and when things get intense he does Jimi proud. Not saying this one is the "best", but it's top tier for sure, and as far as the whole "jazz" discussion goes...well, we have a winner.
Casey Jones
June 27, 1969
Veterans Auditorium

Crazy early version w/indeed a long-ish lead-in instrumental and groovy slower jams in the middle...they're obviously still in the "working out" stages of this classic and it's a total blast to hear this infant version...it still rocks, just in a different way than the well-known faster versions of later years.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 21, 1977
Lakeland Civic Center

This really needs some comment as well as more votes. There may be no better version in terms of precision combined with power and flow of BOTH tunes, which is fairly rare. (Often you get a stellar 'Scarlet' followed by a tired or flubbed 'Fire', or vice versa.) This version (found on DP 29) never lets up. The 'Scarlet' is pure perfection--smooth yet jammy--and the transition into 'Fire' is a tsunami of power chords by Jerry with ensuing jams that spark the senses. Please give it another listen and see if it earns your vote.
Brown Eyed Women
Sept. 26, 1981
Buffalo Auditorium

Extra Jerry in the jam section...perfectly rendered version...a real hidden gem!
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