headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

10
Deep Elem Blues
May 1, 1970
Alfred College

Sweet opener. This is about where in the year the immortal Country Dead takes off: 6 hour shows, three sets, NRPS, what a time. This one's a beauty.
4
St. Stephen
April 24, 1970
Mammoth Gardens

The last DS>SS>11 ever, and doesn't disappoint. Sounds like they still had TC's celeste, even tho he'd already left. Perfect cannon shot, tight jam.
4
Friend of the Devil
April 24, 1970
Mammoth Gardens

Deep levels of intimacy on the AUDs here, and Jer's voice and playing are just spectacular. Brilliant fresh playing from a historic transitional era.
2
Turn On Your Love Light
April 11, 1970
Fillmore West

Incomplete show, but a perfect artifact preserves the LL in all its sweaty greasy glory. Pig's on form, the band is in swampfunk mode. All good here.
2
Turn On Your Love Light
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

Pig asks some couple to "do something nasty" and to come up on stage, then the band almost soulds like they're starting Purple Haze. Wild times.

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.