headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Feb. 20, 1971
Capitol Theater

3rd ever and it's a beauty. Show uneven at first, then comes together with Cryptical>TOO>Wharf for some righteous Dead, looking for their '71 sound.
26
Cumberland Blues
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Along with every other bit of this concert, raging good time energy and virtuouso groupmind, aided of course by one of the most ultimate AUDs ever.
38
Good Lovin'
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

Stop everything you're doing and listen to this now. No really, do it. Now.
55
Playin' In The Band
April 8, 1972
Wembley Empire Pool

Something happens to Playing' in Europe. Check 'em out, one by one and watch it grow. This one is the bomb. Outrageous shredding.
11
Big River
Feb. 22, 1974
Winterland Arena

Listen to this, then listen again for Jerry's solo: Come back and tell me Big River is a "throw away" song, cause he damn-well tears it up here.

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.