headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

3
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

A barnburner, charged up and powerful. Nice clear musical ideas throughout the jam.
3
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Like 10.23 this has a burning, agressive quality and hard-driving pulse that gives it huge horsepower. Playin's eternal metamorphosis on display here.
4
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Jerry's soloing throughout this one is fantastic, precise and rockin'.
2
Jack Straw
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Nice version, band kicks into gear and sounds great, ironing out a few kinks in the mix earlier in the set. Early Keith show = dynamite stuff.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Overlooked. No peace-and-love version, this is rock and freaking roll. The transition to Ryder is pure shredding genius.
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Comments

Dupree's Diamond Blues
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

The banter alone is worth an upvote, with Bill Graham is gifted a cowbell and inducted into the band.... Then the late show starts with this sweet, simple version. That's presumably TC on the steam calliope and who but the Dead would even try such a thing?!?
Dark Star
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

Back here for more. It's really that good. After nearly 40 minutes of creating whole cosmos out of the air it almost sounds like they might land back into Playin' then maybe back into Dark Star melody for the second chorus, then into that beautiful Wharf Rat. Like a spinning twenty-sided die it could have landed anywhere, perfectly. G'damn, but this one deserves its spot on the front page.
Truckin'
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

When they open a show like this you just know you're in for something special. They are so tight from the jump, everyone in perfect sync, Jerry and Phil in perfect co-soloing mind-meld with Keith a bright comet overhead. Even the vocals are beautiful. Honest here, we chronically overlook Truckin' as heads, but I think it's ALWAYS (1970-1995) the best measure of how on they were for any given show. This one is just exactly perfect.
Dark Star
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

A long twisting story filled with beautiful forking paths. Jerry is an inspired lyricist, fluttering just out of reach like a thousand moths in moonlight.
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Agreed that this is pretty mellow next to the sustained firepower of the colossal August - November Playin' marathon after Europe. It's honestly an embarrassment of riches, (shout out to the August Berkeley shows for being chronically under appreciated), but I find something special in this one because it has elements that almost sound more like the electric Miles Davis-infused 1974 sound.
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