headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


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

Let It Grow
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Powerful, forceful, fast, and precise. This is the type of LIG that I would just go nuts for as a young head. This one is just rip-roaring from word go, has a blistering drum solo a greased lightning re-entry before smoothing the way for cool jam into Cosmic Charlie. This kind of "under the radar" jam is perfect for the era: LiG>CosmicC then SS>NFA>SS? How often did they play that combination?
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

One of the best from June '76.
Big River
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Takes a lot to get me to vote for a Big River, but you've got to hear Keith and Jerry's double solos here. Just perfect.
The Music Never Stopped
June 23, 1976
Tower Theatre

Slightly mellower tempo than some of the wild barn-burners of the time, but this lends itself to a sharp and spiffy show opener with a beautiful swimming interlude vocal (Donna haters notwithstanding) and great crowd pleasing starter. Summer '76 was some brilliant peak Dead, rolling out their next act. Don't skip this one.
Playin' In The Band
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

How the Dead can be simultaneously so understated and mellow, yet so tweakingly far out and experimental is one the musical mysteries. This is just wild stuff - it has all the electric-Miles feel mentioned above, but it has that unmistakable high-speed, low-altitude cruising. Around minute 18, after the short proto-FTM jam, Jerry just takes off and skims the treetops. Freeform beauty ensues as they move towards The Wheel.