headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

2
Drums
June 4, 1978
Campus Stadium - University Of California

Part of a very hardcore rock and roll 2nd set. HEAVY wailing Drums>Space>NFA w/motorcycle revs.
8
Beat it on Down The Line
May 16, 1972
Theatre Hall

Another Europe '72 tour winner. Bobby sez "Rock on out" for the bridge jam and Jerry obliges.
24
Ramble On Rose
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

Just discovered this one, available on archive as outtakes that didn't make the DP release. Simply put, it kicks ass.
8
Doin' That Rag
June 14, 1969
Monterey Performing Arts Center

Always a tough tune for the band to pull off but here they do it with authority. Jerry nails the vocals w/gusto!
10
Black Peter
Sept. 25, 1981
Stabler Arena

After 10/29/77 this should be your go-to BP. Emotion oozes and Jer shreds the outro.
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Comments

Eyes Of The World
Oct. 16, 1974
Winterland Arena

Been re-listening to this stellar version, forever in the shadows to the better known movie version 3 nights later but this one is worthy on its own of a much higher ranking. Garcia has that liquid guitar thing going in between verses and the spillover into unexpected space territory sets it apart from almost any other ‘74. What a run this was.
Cassidy
Jan. 15, 1979
Springfield Civic Center

Crazy hot end jam spilling out into the coda sans final lyric as in some versions from ‘78...beautifully played throughout...might be higher ranked if a better source existed. Shame this only had one vote when I got here...this is a gem hiding in plain sight.
Cold Rain and Snow
Dec. 17, 1970
The Matrix

Kudos to everyone who recommended this version. As noted, Jerry's vocals are damn near perfect and I love the "grunge" sound of the instrumental break sections, brief as they are given the year, but so densely packed with purpose. I never take much notice of this song pre-1972 (the first year I assumed it really gelled as a tune) & I still like the later versions for the stretched-out jamming and added power the tune could deliver (see 10-12-83 as my all time favorite) but this awesome entry has easily made my personal top 5. Fantastic stuff here.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 4, 1991
Richfield Coliseum

A little more MIDI in the transition jam than I normally care for, but it's mitigated by some inspired playing by Bruce. Also, while most of the comments have singled out the "fire", I think the "Scarlet" is pretty darn good, too. It's fast but super tight and the aforementioned transition jam just mind-meld-melts its way from Scarlet into Fire, and yeah, the Fire that ensues is marked by some real gritty Jerry guitar, non-MIDI style, and so this one got my upvote.
Promised Land
Dec. 26, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

^^^^Agreed. All the ones that aren’t throwaways, like this one, should be upvoted to help them stand out. (Also if you like this check out 9/18/90 which is beyond the best they ever did.)
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