headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49712


Submissions

15
Playin' In The Band
July 18, 1972
Rossevelt Stadium

Hard-driver with intense 10/4 jamming throughout. Phil and Billy give it extra oomph. Great mix with Keith and Jer up front and clear.
4
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
July 18, 1972
Rossevelt Stadium

One of those rare ones where China Cat plods a bit and they move into a blazing hot Rider. Great show all around, too.
19
Candyman
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Keith plays beautifully on this.
7
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Like with all Winter '73s the band is in excellent form. Bobby's slashing chords behind Big Jer just make this one an uptempo gem.
8
Me and Bobby McGee
Dec. 8, 1973
Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke U

Sweet and lovely. Jerry's virtuoso fillagree behind Bobby's smooth-as-smoke vocals just slay me here.

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.