headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

2
Candyman
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

2nd one ever, and doesn't flow perfectly yet. They're working out the lovely 3-part harmonies and it's just fantastic transitional Dead.
1
Deep Elem Blues
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

Sweetness in the '70 acoustic key. Confusing setlist/archive on this show, but worth a listen.
5
Mama Tried
Feb. 14, 1970
Fillmore East

In spite of a bit of tape wobble, this is an otherwise pristine version, with everyone keyed up right. A tight solo and a fun time.
5
Friend of the Devil
April 3, 1970
Field House, U. of Cincinnati

Fast acoustic pickin' with alternative lyrics. Sounds almost like a 12-string in places. Is that possible?
6
St. Stephen
March 24, 1970
Pirates World

All the power and, let's admit it AMBIVALENCE by our boys is on here. They flub the lyrics but bigbang the jam. We are the answer to the answer, man.

Comments

Cream Puff War
July 16, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Maybe the best one so far. They nail the changes in meter and syncopated transitions better than any time before it in rehearsal or live, and the jam just kicks ass, closing out a set that must have blistered the unsuspecting's eyeballs. I think they shelved parts of it, but mined it for juicy bits that you can pick up in the Anthem of the Sun era: It sounds to my rusty old ears that there are pieces of Cream Puff War that then informed Caution, and also parts of the CE>TOO suite.
Beat it on Down The Line
July 16, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Bobby's just a baby and he sounds like a demented carny. "Surf punk" doesn't even begin to describe it. I love this so much.
Dancin' in the Streets
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

It's incorrectly listed as the first Stealin' track on this link. You can also get to it - and y'all really should - by clicking on the link, "check for other copies", then follow the white rabbit put there by the heroic Charlie Miller for a whole set of other beauties from this show.
New Minglewood Blues
May 19, 1966
Avalon Ballroom

Proof that Bobby didn't start shrieking in the '80s here. They sound so punk-rock, 10 years before that scene hit California. So cool to go all the way back to the beginning. Check out this whole show, for one of the first live recordings of a whole set out there. Thanks Archive!
Hurts Me Too
May 19, 1966
Avalon Ballroom

Pigpen was a fully formed and mature blues singer at this point. The rest of the band is still getting it together, still primal and not fully formed. But Pig... oh man. Pure Pig.