headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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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
Oct. 18, 1974
Winterland Arena

The more I hear this one, the more I love it. All the great jazz-jamming and inventive passages of the best Dark Stars and none of the (to my ears) detracting feedback dissonance.
Shakedown Street
Nov. 29, 1979
Cleveland Public Hall

Ultra smooth with Brent just flying...great jazz/funk outro jam. In the year with the most consistent # of phenomenal Shakedowns this one still stands out.
Alabama Getaway
May 1, 1981
Hampton Coliseum

This whole show deserves more attention. Stand-out versions of LIG>Deal, Wheel, Stranger, Franklin's. One of the very best shows of 1981.
Eyes Of The World
June 9, 1976
Boston Music Hall

Truly one of the great intros; best of the 1976 versions in which they play around a little with the "Stronger Than dirt" jam pre-lyrics rather than post-lyrics as was the norm in 1974. They don't fully engage the theme as they did in '74 but definitely reference it and it makes for a very interesting jam before Jerry even approaches the mic!
Row Jimmy
Sept. 18, 1974
Parc des Expositions

Stunning. I had no idea there was a '74 version with such stretched-out Garcia soloing...always looked to '77 and '78 for that...but this has a first Garcia break that is like spacey-sweet and gorgeous. Thanks for the tip on this one.
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