headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

10
Deep Elem Blues
May 1, 1970
Alfred College

Sweet opener. This is about where in the year the immortal Country Dead takes off: 6 hour shows, three sets, NRPS, what a time. This one's a beauty.
4
St. Stephen
April 24, 1970
Mammoth Gardens

The last DS>SS>11 ever, and doesn't disappoint. Sounds like they still had TC's celeste, even tho he'd already left. Perfect cannon shot, tight jam.
4
Friend of the Devil
April 24, 1970
Mammoth Gardens

Deep levels of intimacy on the AUDs here, and Jer's voice and playing are just spectacular. Brilliant fresh playing from a historic transitional era.
2
Turn On Your Love Light
April 11, 1970
Fillmore West

Incomplete show, but a perfect artifact preserves the LL in all its sweaty greasy glory. Pig's on form, the band is in swampfunk mode. All good here.
2
Turn On Your Love Light
April 9, 1970
Fillmore West

Pig asks some couple to "do something nasty" and to come up on stage, then the band almost soulds like they're starting Purple Haze. Wild times.

Comments

Morning Dew
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

This show gets maligned for its looseness and at times less-than-fully ensemble playing. But I have another take: it was the end of the tour, and besides the Winterland October run, quite possibly the last Grateful Dead show ever. They were tired, it seems clear, but they opened up the hatches and let everything out just to see what would happen. Result: this Dew is slower, more thoughtful, but no less intense. Blazing in places, then introspective, melancholy, and experimental. Give the show a generous listen. It's interesting because of its flaws, not only in spite of them.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

The heavy 'dark' quality here is quite bracing. Reminiscent of some of Miles Davis' music from the era: 'Bitches Brew' and Live-Evil, and Agharta/Pangaea. And I mean this in a most beautiful way. If some of you Heads don't know this particular seam of influence on our boys, then check it out.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Damned double post. Sorry mates.
Fire On The Mountain
July 27, 1973
Grand Prix Racecourse

Listened again: it isn't only the two-chord FTM vamp jam that makes this a bone fide embryonic version: They're definitely working out melodic themes that would become the song we love from years later. Damn, I love the Dead.
Around and Around
May 25, 1977
The Mosque

Goddamn, but this whole 2nd set is just immortal. They knew they'd killed it: Just listen to half the band ending while the other half sez, "hell no, we ain't done yet" and then they break into double time. Almost seems like they'd have doubled it again, but maybe the theater manager was pointing at his watch or something. Fuck 'em, cause they weren't done yet and we get some Johnny B. Goode to send it off. Mmm mmm Goode indeed.