headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48136


Submissions

2
Let It Grow
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Fires off like a rocket. Souped up and accelerated. Is this the first LiG without the WRS to introduce it? It's a speed demon top notch version.
1
Playin' In The Band
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

This is a weird one. At times it seems like they forgot it was PiTB and went back to the HSF jam. Fun, but waaaaaaaaay loose.
1
Lazy Lightnin' -> Supplication
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Short, sweet, brand new, and flawless.
1
Friend of the Devil
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Brilliant early "slow version". I always prefered the desperado fast-paced ones, but this turns into a brilliant exploration and improv vehicle.
3
Uncle John's Band
Dec. 31, 1972
Winterland Arena

Uptempo, powerful, strong vocals. This is top shelf UJB. With David Crosby for that extra oomph, and with a tigh outro, it's strangely not here yet.

Comments

St. Stephen
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

The 'bell-ringing' chimes section of the last solo before the out-chorus is top notch, but this one otherwise drags a bit to start.
The Music Never Stopped
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

This should be higher. Jerry pushes it harder and harder, never quite tipping it over to the breaking point. The crowd got a sweet treat here. Donna's in tune and well mixed, harmonizing nicely, and the Devils are just perfectly octopusical.
Scarlet Begonias
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

A beacon, signalling to all who are ready to receive it: This is the '77 Dead. Simply a perfect, beautiful and deep performance of a song that grooves and grooves and grooves, but that also has a bit of wisdom to it too. "Once in a while...."
Good Lovin'
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

Y'all got to hear this in context. They were still just bringing it out and re-crafting it after the Pigpen era. It wasn't the staple it became of 80s and 90s Dead, but probably seemed like a novelty for the old heads at the time. In any case, it rocks, and Donna sounds sweet behind Bobby's confident swagger.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

Right off the bat Jerry just sparkles. Slithery solo lines announce that this will take you there. Nice to here Bobby in the mix too. Agreed, this has a mellowness to it, maybe from Phil hanging back on the beat. Feels like a few clicks slower than the cokey versions from later in the year. Donna's light touch works in nicely for an added treat, and Phil's solo gives me blissed-out shivers, recalling my time in The Zone.