headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

12
Candyman
March 24, 1988
Omni Coliseum

Lucky enough to be at this show. Candyman blew everyone away--best song played that night. Awesome trippy guitar jam &Jer belts out vocals
42
Ramble On Rose
May 19, 1977
Fox Theatre

Gorgeous, incredible, up and down, carnival-like bridge jam by Jerry. Picture perfect version--no flaws
43
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

April '78 S>F's often mentioned are 4/16 and 4/24 (rightly so) but this one is every bit as good. Superior transition jam--, beautiful, & powerful
94
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

Starts out Jazzy, explorative, takes its time, 3 minute intro, then blasts off into the stratosphere with intense Garcia-led jamming

Comments

Uncle John's Band
Feb. 27, 1994
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium

Surprised, even bowled-over by how good--no, great--this version is. Love the 2 1/2 minute intro, the acoustic guitar sound, the sick jam Jerry treats us to before the return to the main theme in the coda. This isn't just fantastic for 1994--it's one of the very best from any era, and deserves to be top 3 all-time. Stunning stuff and a terrific recommendation. Oh, and the Supplication tease? Icing on the cake.
Stagger Lee
Dec. 16, 1978
Nashville Municipal Auditorium

^^^^Very cool history lesson, Donnie...thank you! Next we need to dig into the legend of whether Dupree really killed a jewelry store owner for a $1,000 ring :-)
Smokestack Lightnin'
Feb. 8, 1970
Fillmore West

Jerry's final solo (with whole band in tow) digs down DEEP into jam-jam Hall of Fame stuff here. My favorite.
She Belongs To Me
Sept. 15, 1985
Devore Field

With all due respect to the Dick's Picks version currently ranked above this one, THIS is the most beautiful version of the classic Dylan tune the boys ever performed. Jerry's middle solo is like a drifting cloud you can't stop staring at. His vocal delivery here is stronger than 11/1 and the final solo digs deeper. I'd like to see this one in the #1 slot.
The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)
Sept. 19, 1990
Madison Square Garden

Bestest of the best right here. Jerry belts out the vocals, nails all the lyrics. Confident, chunky Phil-led backbeat...and tons o' fun.