headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49652


Submissions

1
Big Railroad Blues
Dec. 31, 1970
Winterland Arena

Not on the list, but hidden in an unfortunately cut Easy Wind. Tinny recording but killer, fast, and furious jamming.
7
Smokestack Lightnin'
Dec. 28, 1970
Legion Stadium

Soulful pure blues. This is an intimate, informal show. It ain't slick, and that's just fine.
1
Playin' In The Band
April 15, 1971
Allegheny College

Only 2 months old, and 22nd time: They were working hard on it, and you can hear the explosive potential. Manic warbler mode, Main 10 at the surface.
1
Truckin'
Dec. 28, 1970
Legion Stadium

Tight simmering burner here, with nice Bobby/Jerry mix levels. Pig on organ is a little lost, so try headphones for some fun.
1
Me and Bobby McGee
Dec. 27, 1970
Legion Stadium

Starts simple and grows into a triumph. Can't help but think these meant a lot to the boys right after JJ's passing. Beautiful.

Comments

Comes A Time
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Listening again (and again and again) to that gentle lilting jam, and I'm more convinced now that you could describe it as a long teasing intro into the TOO that they finally reach after drums. It isn't TOO in the power-acid rollercoaster cannon shot, but right around 07:30 Keith switches up the chord changes and the drums switch from 12/8 feel (regular triplets over the 4/4 of the main melody) into a clear 6/8 (the meter of TOO). Jerry picks it up right away and turns his flutter of a butterfly wing solo into a rock waltz. By 09:40 Phil and Bobby are pushing it into uncharted territory (it almost sounds like the stuff Joni Mitchell would do with Jaco Pastorius starting the same year) but somehow TOO is already in the air, gently, touched by that beautiful '76 understatement. It's only in the last few seconds before Drums that they spell it out completely. What beauty!
Samson and Delilah
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Soloing is brilliant, and the jam almost lifts off into the Dancing in the Streets territory of the era.
Sugaree
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Wasn't too convinced at first by this one. It drags a bit during the first minutes, but then, oh lord, hold on tight because you're about to lose your face. Kicks up around 06:30 min in.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
July 17, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Real love here between Jerry and Keith. Different mixes to chose from, but I'm enjoying the Tetzeli Soundboard. Bobby's a bit lost, but otherwise great separation and a clear sound. Keith is clear and glorious.
King Solomon's Marbles
July 16, 1976
Orpheum Theatre

Not a KSM. A very cool jam indeed, but doesn't have the melody, structure, meter, polyrhythms or form of KSM. There are arguably thematic riffs in common, but if I had to say, I'd say this is erroneously marked.