headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48136


Submissions

10
Big Railroad Blues
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Utterly gobsmacked that this ain't here yet: It's a furious barnburner. Full of get up and go.
15
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

A more rocking version than others from the time, and oddly overlooked. Jumps off Cat right away into the long transition. Energetic stuff here.
13
Black Throated Wind
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Is there a single one from '72 that doesn't end in triumph? This song just got better and better throughout Europe. Surprised this wasn't here yet.
11
Sugar Magnolia
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Perfect musical sunshine. This one even got my not-at-all-into-the-Dead wife to dance around like a trippin' hippy, so you know it's good.
13
Truckin'
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Unforgivable that you guys overlook Truckin'. There's a reason it's the one song non-heads know. This one is a forgotten colossus. Listen up.

Comments

U.S. Blues (Wave That Flag)
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Perfect party topper. Glyn's right about this one. I always felt that they closed with U.S. Blues when they knew they'd just thrown a good party. Closing out an epic three-show spot at Winterland with this as the double encore means to me that they'd had a great time too.
The Other One
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

This one has a great arc to it. They cruise at warp6 for 10 hot minutes before leaving the jaw-grinding peak for a blissful spaceout. It's gripping as they find their way into Stella. Shout out to Keith, who just as they're coming into that peaceful interlude hits on a 4 over 12 vamp that I hadn't heard before, adding to the beauty.
St. Stephen
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

The outro jam is pretty special, warts and all. I love the few post-hiatus versions that have a clear "bell" jam before the last shout. Here it starts around 7:50 with repeating bass notes that sound like booming church bells, just like the lyrics tell us.
Promised Land
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Jerry is just ripping it up here, as he is throughout the show.
Samson and Delilah
March 20, 1977
Winterland Arena

Shuffles along a bit loose until Jerry takes his solo after the second chorus that just rips the sky apart with his buzz saw. On the C. Miller edition you can hear some of Bobby's cool counterpoint spurring Jerry on that's missing too often from other versions.