headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

4
Candyman
June 3, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Keith and Donna on this are just wonderful. Strong version all around, but Keith's fillis are just outta sight.
8
Me and My Uncle
Dec. 31, 1971
Winterland Arena

Intensity encapsulated in the middle of a TOO jam outta this world. Here's as good an example of the cowboy psychedelicore Winter '71 as you can find.
3
Me and Bobby McGee
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

A bit faster and carried along with a strong backbeat from Mr. K. makes this one special. Perfect ensemble singing arrangement too.
20
Run Run Rudolph
Dec. 14, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Pigpen, Chuck Berry, Santa Claus, because fuck yeah, that's why.
10
Not Fade Away
Dec. 10, 1971
Fox Theatre

Dec '71 NFA-GDTRFB-NFAs are all powerful statements of the band's essential unity. I love how China Cat peaks out atcha during the jams.

Comments

Cassidy
April 26, 1977
Capitol Theater

Wharf Rat
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Hey I just listened to this suite again and think the WR>Jam idea might be wrongly labeled. At 10:48 or so Jerry changes key back into Playin' and the band follows immediately. Their meter changes too and it sounds more like 10/4 (Playin') than 6/8 (WR) to my ears. This doesn't change a damned thing or detract from what's been said, but I think this is a Playin'>WR>Playin'>Meltdown>Playin' suite. Thoughts?
Wharf Rat
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Gets my vote for best of the year, but I also think it hard to say just where comes back into the Playin' space during the deep jam... They're so far out of the WR structure and into the wild outer spheres before coming back into the recognisable reprise. Not too often that Wharf Rat dips into Dark Star territory, but this is something special.
Playin' In The Band
April 25, 1977
Capitol Theater

Brings the expansive length and transitive madness of the most epic pre-hiatus versions if you take it as part of the whole suite. I don't say 'under-rated' often, but it fits here.
Deep Elem Blues
May 7, 1981
Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Synder

Here it is with great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chADQBmosEQ. It's quite cool to see this era with a decent/professional camerawork: Nice in-focus closeups of the band, Jerry singing beautifully and his fretwork. A beaut of a version any way you look at it.