headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


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

The Other One
Feb. 5, 1978
Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa

Madison 310, this is indeed a thing of tremendous power and beauty, but if you want some early powerful stuff, back when the Dead were f'n dangerous and frightening to the world, like rip-up-the-sky-and-blow-you-apart DANGER DEAD, then check out two cool early gems: Feb. 03, 1968 with it's whipsaw mania, and the proto-TIFTOO from Oct. 22, 1967 with its loopy unfinished lyrics and Phil blasting through it like a Mad Bomber nuking the world. (Listen to the whole Cryptical-TOO-Cryptical suite for full shreddiness!) Enjoy, brother!
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Feb. 5, 1978
Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa

Stunning energy and creativity, with the special shout-outs to Keith and Jerry for driving the Scarlet out of this world. Funnily enough the transition is not, in spite of some comments here, all that smooth: Around 11:45 all of the energy drops off the cliff. It's as though they suddenly and collectively thought, "Holy shit, how do we get down from here", and all just stopped, took a breath, and decided to go into FTM. They get there, of course, but it's a big gear shift. And once they do, it's a thing of beauty. Plenty of other smoother transitions out there, but it doesn't matter: This is an enormous and beautiful version from a magical second set for the lucky buggers who got to see them on this winter night in Iowa.
Samson and Delilah
Feb. 5, 1978
Uni Dome, U of Northern Iowa

Smokin' hot, mic drop or not. This has so much electricity behind it, there's no wonder it's in first place here. This is the S&D I was always looking for: Jerry rides atop the cozmic camel in full gallop.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Dec. 11, 1972
Winterland Arena

Still in its early development, this is one of my favorite '72 MHUTs. It's perfect ensemble performance, the smooth transition to the outro, and gentle rolling river form-is-content-is-form understates the song's special tripiness (you either know it or you don't).
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 10, 1972
Winterland Arena

Roger that, Ragnaroar. That's what makes this one a stand out.