headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

3
Cumberland Blues
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Joyful chaos: A brilliant splatter. Bobby's voice never sounded so good to me as it did in '71.
5
Mister Charlie
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Pigpen at his best with the band at its grit-in-the-gears crunchiest. They were on this night and this one is just full of butt.
6
Wharf Rat
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

Very passionate version, some distortion or tape speed issues (?) remind me of my cassette trading days and bring out the trippiness to the song.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

If this hard grooving China jam and Feeling Groovy transition doesn't just get you moving, then nothing can. Just perfect.
10
Pretty Peggy O
Dec. 12, 1973
Omni Coliseum

First version ever is real nice... but listen to the soundcheck version for insight into the bands working dynamics. Cool to hear them working on it.

Comments

The Other One
Nov. 7, 1971
Harding Theatre

Beautiful and hard charging version with a mysteriously perfect segue into MAMU, but it's the outro that just slays me with its mysterious and light-as air melodic jam before the power finale. Strong stuff here, know your dose.
Playin' In The Band
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

Good call cgarces! I love this one.
Me and My Uncle
Nov. 7, 1971
Harding Theatre

There are passages in the Dark Star hinting that they knew exactly where they were going with this brilliant TOO>MAMU>TOO sandwich. Keith's honky tonk piano, like it does in the Mexicali Blues earlier is just perfect here, and combined with the heavy trippin-balls Other One vibe makes this a standout version.
Mexicali Blues
Nov. 6, 1971
Harding Theater

Acid carnival, complete with honky tonk piano, wild chaos, and a dubious narrative ringleader.
Comes A Time
Nov. 7, 1971
Harding Theatre

Beautiful version, but it isn't the only time they sang the 2nd "when words come out" verse. It's there in every version from the song's about a month earlier. I think it's really the key verse for to the meaning of the song, and makes me think about times when my anger took me over and left me regretting my actions. Without it, the "feel nothin' at all" lyrics take on a darker sense altogether (in my opinion). I wonder if they took it out when it seemed like the song was a bit long for a mid-set ballad. I just love these early versions in any case.