headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

5
Comes A Time
Oct. 19, 1971
Northrop Auditorium, U. of Minn.

1st version and Keith's 1st show. Jerry's voice is clear and full of meaning and remorse. Very beautiful.
4
Deep Elem Blues
Sept. 30, 1971
Studio

Unique as an electric funky blues. The only recording of it between 70 and 78 in a studio rehearsal. Pity this didn't go into rotation this way.
1
Jack Straw
Sept. 30, 1971
Studio

Historic oddity. Keith's rehearsal and three weeks before the first live version. Alternate lyrics, but fun. Some sound issues, tape wobble/speed.
1
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 30, 1971
Studio

Historic moment with Keith's rehearsals, so there's that. But there's also some magic here and they really bite into the groove. Some sound issues.
3
Sugar Magnolia
Aug. 26, 1971
Gaelic Park

Totally nuts. The jam is supernova material.

Comments

Samson and Delilah
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Shuffles along a bit loose until Jerry takes his solo after the second chorus that just rips the sky apart with his buzz saw. On the C. Miller edition you can hear some of Bobby's cool counterpoint spurring Jerry on that's missing too often from other versions.
Scarlet Begonias
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

That ending scrambled some brains, my god. That said, I can't be the only one who thinks that for all if its glory, Scarlet/Fire gave up the awesome lead-up to Scarlet's punctuated ending (here beginning around minute 11:00) that couldn't be regained when it always morphed into FoTM. But can we also have a moment for that rising intensity Jerry-driven insanity starting with the solo after "let her pass by"? Keith's kool kooky Kraftwerky keyboards also give this a nice Mars-era throwback sound (like the Phil and Ned stuff) during the slow sizzle period before that oooooh god-yes ending.
Estimated Prophet
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Anyone here who's attempted to jam in 7/4 knows how outrageously hard it is to make this so smooooooth. Jerry is overflowing with ideas, laying back but telling you everything you need to hear. Keith's toy-piano-on-a-fritzed-amp sound is pretty weird too, making this a fun spooky-good version.
Beat it on Down The Line
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

I have to agree that this isn't the top of the line for me. You want a BIODTL stripped down in kerosene to its pure rock-and-roll essence? Try March 18, 1967, cause it'll curl your straight hair and straighten your curls. Plus it was also at Winterland, so that's kinda kool too.
Deal
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Love this version. Deal comes out of Jerry's guitar like it was his very heartbeat. Solo after solo, this was his vehicle. This one is mellow and swinging, still conveying a bit of that '76 sweetness, and includes an extended out-chorus with nice ensemble harmonies.