headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

2
Candyman
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

2nd one ever, and doesn't flow perfectly yet. They're working out the lovely 3-part harmonies and it's just fantastic transitional Dead.
1
Deep Elem Blues
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

Sweetness in the '70 acoustic key. Confusing setlist/archive on this show, but worth a listen.
5
Mama Tried
Feb. 14, 1970
Fillmore East

In spite of a bit of tape wobble, this is an otherwise pristine version, with everyone keyed up right. A tight solo and a fun time.
5
Friend of the Devil
April 3, 1970
Field House, U. of Cincinnati

Fast acoustic pickin' with alternative lyrics. Sounds almost like a 12-string in places. Is that possible?
6
St. Stephen
March 24, 1970
Pirates World

All the power and, let's admit it AMBIVALENCE by our boys is on here. They flub the lyrics but bigbang the jam. We are the answer to the answer, man.
show more submissions

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.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)