headyversion

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

14
Wharf Rat
Oct. 16, 1974
Winterland Arena

Coming out of a 48 min jam to open the set, this one is like a small visitation before another huge jam>Eyes. A big epic indeed.
8
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Overlooked space-jazz masterwork. Mercurial and vast. Listen to it as the outcome of the Space before it and BANG! you're on a deep ride furthur.
6
Space
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

10mins of absolute weirdness. Incorrectly listed as Seastones - but Jerry, Keith and Billy are there with Phil and Ned. An outrageous corker. Scary.
4
Bertha
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Show opener with mix off: not perfect but interesting to hear Phil/Bobby interplay (almost exclusively), which is rare for '74 recordings.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Nov. 19, 1972
Hofheinz Pavilion

Uncategorizably brilliant transition jam. Sweet sweet Rider. Overshadowed by the immortal PITB that follows. Give a spin, it won't disappoint.
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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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