headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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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

Box of Rain
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

One of the better live versions done. Phil doesn't try to over-sing and neither does Donna. They nail all the verses and it's a tight little ditty that still retains the loveliness of the tune.
Spanish Jam
Aug. 28, 1981
Long Beach Arena

Gritty dig-deep fuzz-guitar Garcia magic.
Bertha
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

Underrated for sure. There's a Glassberg MOTB recording on the archive that's pretty great for an AUD and there's no reason for a May '77 Bertha to be as overlooked as this one has. Mellow but with flowing Jerry-led jams. Excellent version.
Bird Song
Oct. 17, 1983
Olympic Center

This has a sparkling jam segment that builds and peaks & before going back into the final verse settles into a mellow-spacey mini jam reminiscent of the gentle space touches of 6/22/73. Overlooked version as cgarces said b/c of the Sugaree from the same show. Should stand on its own merits tho'.
Alligator
June 6, 1970
Fillmore West

Exactly what ERA said--this should be labeled Kitchen Sink jam for everything it's got going on. I also just submitted this one under "Darkness Jam" which it definitely has, but that's just one amazing nugget among many. I'd put this jam segment up against any they did in any era--it's that good. Top 5 Jam segment all time at the very least.
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