headyversion

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

3
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Joyful chaos: A brilliant splatter. Bobby's voice never sounded so good to me as it did in '71.
5
Mister Charlie
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Pigpen at his best with the band at its grit-in-the-gears crunchiest. They were on this night and this one is just full of butt.
6
Wharf Rat
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

Very passionate version, some distortion or tape speed issues (?) remind me of my cassette trading days and bring out the trippiness to the song.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

If this hard grooving China jam and Feeling Groovy transition doesn't just get you moving, then nothing can. Just perfect.
10
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

First version ever is real nice... but listen to the soundcheck version for insight into the bands working dynamics. Cool to hear them working on it.
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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.
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