headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48135


Submissions

4
Jack Straw
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Like every other song in the first set, this is just pristine, air-play level perfection. Beautiful fills by Keith here, too.
9
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Dec. '72 turns out to be a nice little peak for BEW. Perfect shuffle, air-play tightness, great soloing, just enough country. Bobby nicely audible.
4
Deal
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

A super-fun frolicing romp. They just seem to have loved playing this tune.
3
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 15, 1972
Long Beach Arena

Pristine, air-play quality in a deep pocket with note-for-note perfection all 'round. Surprised not to see it here already.
3
Mexicali Blues
Dec. 15, 1972
Long Beach Arena

Smokin' desperado polka here with superbly tight playing at a faster-than normal pace. A galloping riot and heaps of fun.
show more submissions

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.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)