headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

16
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.
15
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.
8
Mister Charlie
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Distinctly slower, with a greasier funk vibe. Surprised it isn't here. Different from the others and lots of fun.

Comments

Sugaree
Dec. 5, 1971
Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden

Hard swinging rocker. Bobby and Phil are really in sync pumping on the gas here.
Mister Charlie
Dec. 5, 1971
Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden

Damned good, this one. Plus Bobby introduces it with instructions to get ready for the "pirate recorders". It's thanks to this revolutionary attitude that we have so much of this music.
Brown Eyed Women
Dec. 5, 1971
Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden

Note for note elegance.
Wharf Rat
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Approaches the power and arc of the greatest Wharf Rats, and deserves to be near the top. Rivals Summer '74 for beauty, coherence, and sheer emotive power.
The Other One
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

Needs love here: Going chronologically I've realized how experimental they were with TOO since Keith joined, especially in Nov/Dec. Not only are there examples of great meltdown freejazz spacebug weirdness, but the fact that they're mixing it up with Bobby McGee, or El Paso, or even Mexicali (04.12) means that they caught a whole new nexus for this in the new setup. 06.12 is also remarkable because they sandwich McGee before the first chorus, then go into the main jam. Call this one a Dark Star if you want. It's that dialed in.