headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49712


Submissions

9
Sugaree
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

So perfect, it's hard to believe that people could improvise music like this together. This amazing show deserves a clean-up!
14
Big River
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

Overlooked: Between one of this site's favorite HCSs and one of its favorite Dark Stars is a perfect, articulate, and virtuoso version of Big River.
3
Casey Jones
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Just outrageous. Problematic show b/c of mix and cuts in the source. Not here: just a blizzard of jam.
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Show is overlooked b/c mix problems, but they're absolutely on fire and this version shreds like all get-out. Call C. Miller for this one please!
6
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Could be massively heady, but Billy is so high in the mix that it's hard to follow others. Any cleaner versions out there? Has everything but the mix.

Comments

El Paso
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Love the slower tempo and swing vibe to it - and the fact that it comes out of a beaut of a Dark Star.
Dark Star
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

To my ears this one drifts a bit before really, deeply coming together somewhere after minute ten or so. Then they rip out its guts, and by 16:30 it's just a beast of a journey. Phil's veto mentioned above is classic turn-on-a-dime Dead for the ages. They weren't hinting that Dew was coming, they'd already started playing it, but I love how they just pick up the hint and go furthur and furthur. Listening again, and I'm pretty sure the exchange with Phil was a negotiation: Into Dew? Nah. YEAH, into Dew. Nope nope nope. How about El Paso? El Paso, gee, why not!
Stella Blue
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Short version with condensed, purposeful feel to it.
Playin' In The Band
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

The period between Europe and Veneta is worth a study all on its own - so many songs get re-tooled and end up with something new to them. This Playin' condenses so much musical power and innovation into coherent dense material. 15 minutes! Within a couple of months that would seem like an afterthought for Playin', but here you can grok just how far they were preparing to let it go.
Me and My Uncle
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Even the MAMU on this show stands out and kicks ass. This Berkeley run is, of course, well known for its wall-to-wall highlights. Even so, the high praise is well deserved.