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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

4
Mister Charlie
March 21, 1972
Academy of Music

Part of a great first set, the band is on fire, and Pigpen in great form. Tight rocker.
4
Loser
March 21, 1972
Academy of Music

Cracklin' and snappy version. The band is über tight and having fun.
3
Greatest Story Ever Told
March 21, 1972
Academy of Music

Bobby blows a gasket on this one. Raw and powerful, showing exactly where they were headed before Europe. High energy rocker.
4
Playin' In The Band
March 21, 1972
Academy of Music

I'd argue this was the first Playin' as we came to know it after the end of the "Main Ten" and "country warbler" versions from '71.
2
Casey Jones
March 5, 1972
Winterland Arena

After a pretty sloppy 1st set, they charge up and nail this one. Phil goes bananas on the out chorus.

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.