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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48135


Submissions

1
Samson and Delilah
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

These early ones have such brilliant swagger, you can really hear the gospel power to them
6
The Wheel
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

Such floating beauty, you can feel the tires humming down the highway. Part of a magic Playin' sammy too. Everything about this is brilliant.
3
Cassidy
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

Just exactly perfect here. Bobby and Donna were perfection in '76, The little AUD patch doesn't hurt at all. Jerry and the Devils tear it up.
2
Looks Like Rain
June 22, 1976
Tower Theatre

Donna and Bobby in perfect sync, beautifully harmonizing, and backed up with brilliant Jerry fretwork. '76 was Donna's best year by far.
4
The Music Never Stopped
June 21, 1976
Tower Theater

Short set opener, but if there's one where Donna saves it all with breathy ahhhs and mmmms, it's this one. Gentle whispers around 03:30.

Comments

Cryptical Envelopment
Jan. 26, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

All about the reprise. This one cooks.
Caution
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Powerful doesn't begin to describe it. This is the Dangerous Dead, though pretty short for the era. This is the era when the Avalon would hold them to one-hour sets and the night before they cut off the electricity, so perhaps they were reigning it in.
Alligator
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Starts a little unfocused, but comes out of the drum solo and transitions into Caution with blow-your-hair-back force.
Cosmic Charlie
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

One of the best I know: They're having a blast. The growling grinding combination of Jerry and the keys (Pigpen? TC? both?) gives it an energetic tight swinging sound during the verses, and an unexpected almost punk-rock blown-amp sounding bridge to the "calling you" section. Cosmic Charlie is so legendary and mythic: People held banners at shows with the number of days past since it was last performed and annual set-lists would say Cosmic Charlie: 0 with a sad-face next to it. Hear it here in a uniquely tight and fun version.
Dark Star
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

TC is too high in the mix, but so what? In most recordings of the era it's almost impossible to hear any indication of what he brought, so this is an interesting document if nothing else. It's also musically a whirligig of fun, even if a bit scattered in places. Deduct points for the mix if you must.