headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

7
Around and Around
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Usually a toss-off for me, and maybe it's Chuck Berry's passing that makes me think of it, but this version kicks serious ass. Deliberate and strong.
10
Bird Song
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Crisp, articulate, deliberate. This is as strong a statement about what this song could be in '72 as I know. Airplay levels of concision.
7
Cold Rain and Snow
Sept. 26, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Always loved this one early in the first set, 'cause it meant the boys meant business. This one has a loose, comfortable sound, but with high energy.
8
Bertha
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

Masterclass from the Philzone here. He tears this one up.
9
Loser
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

Driven version. Purposeful, biting, and strong, with a high-tension wire energy. They meant business.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias
June 3, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Revisiting after a long spell, and this is as pure as they come. No FoTM, but natch, it wasn't written yet. What a beauty.
Cassidy
June 3, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Years later and back for another dose of this historic show. Sure, there's some rough patches, but can you imagine being there as a head, waiting out the hiatus and they bust out with new repertoire including Cassidy? This is some of Barlow's greatest writing for the band, and I've always considered this one of the most philosophical songs in their oeuvre deceptively simple, but "scattered like lost words" speaks beauty, and "I can tell by the mark he left you were in his dream" is mysterious dark poetry of the highest order. This might not be the tightest version ever, but it's definitely one of the most satisfying - at least for me.
Sugar Magnolia
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Totally bonkers. Really, like zonkers bonkers: It's more uptempo - maybe our boys took their vitamins during the break - and Crosby's addition gives it an almost orchestral quality. Really a beauty.
The Other One
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Goes deep weird. (I love that.) But it also has a floaty ethereal passage before heading into Morning Dew that is just sublime. Phil and Billy's Drum and Bass solo is brilliant. Did they freakin' invent the genre? They did a similar solo on the 12th of the same month which is worth a listen, too.
Truckin'
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Scorching hot jam, with a great radio broadcast version on the Archive with a perfectly balanced soundboard. Everyone is audible, and they're deep in the pocket, plus Jerry is just inspiration on wheels. Truckin' when it's hot is unbeatable, and this one kicks off over an hour-long sweet sweet suite.
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