headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

FreedomHaul

Grateful Novice

+17699


Submissions

9
Aiko Aiko
March 18, 1990
Civic Center

12
Friend of the Devil
March 18, 1990
Civic Center

Brent's playing goes far outside of the rhythmic structures the rest of the band is using to support him, shaking them out of their complacency.
13
Little Red Rooster
March 18, 1990
Civic Center

Acceptable slide playing from Bobby. Nice extended organ solo, MIDI sax solo. Whole band playing blues choruses gives first set particular vibe.
38
New Minglewood Blues
May 7, 1977
Boston Garden

Looser and hotter than its more famous brethren from the following night, but Garcia gets buried some in the mix.
20
Jack Straw
May 7, 1977
Boston Garden

To my ears, the Betty Boards usually have a fair amount of Keith. Come hear why.

Comments

St. Stephen
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Stand alone version with NFA/Iko Iko style first jam. Nice 6/8 section towards end, with "Truckin'" tease (even more than a tease, since they seem to be going there pretty full on), then Bobby enters early on outro vocal material and > Sugar Mag. I don't hear the Morning Dew tease. Or of highlights of a lackluster second set.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

This one left me pretty indifferent. Garcia struggles some with the lyrics a couple of times, and while there's a lot of coked out bouncing around on the main "Fire" progression (a la 05-08), the tempo's a bit slower and I don't think it works as well. Might need to give it another listen.
Estimated Prophet
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

coherent playing from Garcia, you can tell he's getting more comfortable with this material. At first I was irked that Bobby resented with the vocals when he did, but it actually presaged a nice studio-like fade out.
Bertha
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Slow moving but with soaring leads from Garcia (a la 05-17 "Scarlet").
The Music Never Stopped
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Phil comes through the Betty Board to spank your ears with funkadelic goodness. Also, love how this seemed to emerge from the tuning before hand (one of my key markers for a stellar version).