headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

3
Big Railroad Blues
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

A barnburner, charged up and powerful. Nice clear musical ideas throughout the jam.
3
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Like 10.23 this has a burning, agressive quality and hard-driving pulse that gives it huge horsepower. Playin's eternal metamorphosis on display here.
4
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Jerry's soloing throughout this one is fantastic, precise and rockin'.
2
Jack Straw
Oct. 27, 1971
Onondaga War Memorial

Nice version, band kicks into gear and sounds great, ironing out a few kinks in the mix earlier in the set. Early Keith show = dynamite stuff.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 24, 1971
Easttown Theatre

Overlooked. No peace-and-love version, this is rock and freaking roll. The transition to Ryder is pure shredding genius.
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Comments

Me and Bobby McGee
April 5, 1971
Manhattan Center

That's Jerry, not Phil, I'm fairly sure. Anyone else? My headphones are busted (don't ask),so I can't listen really deeply like I want to, and it does sound like a little bit of three-part harmony on the very last lines, but Jer is singing backup throughout and the yodel is within his timbrel range. Any historians out there know for sure? Sure is a beaut, anyway.
Good Lovin'
May 3, 1972
Olympia Theater

Pig gets good and filthy right around 10:00.
The Other One
May 2, 1970
Harpur College

Apparently two years and change since I've rechecked this one: I agree with crankyoldhead above. This is an insane rager, for sure, but hard to figure it as the top o'the list other than that it's been released commercially. Strong points: relentless and coherent, but it never tips over the edge, but just stays close to it for a great long journey. To me the cryptical reprise gets closest to the supernova power of, for example 04.26.72 and probably twenty-five others on this page. Not meant as a criticism, but simply an observation.
Dark Star
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

A wonderful, long, inventive version, full of pure musical jams, a wild post-verse spacemelt, and a glorious return into a beautiful Jack Straw. I reckon it's no higher on the list because the board levels aren't top-shelf, but the recording itself is great, and there's good channel separation so you can hear Bobby's angular knifey stabalong clearly, which is a too-rare treat for the era. (His interaction with Keith and Jerry at about 24:00 is just brilliant.) Listen to it, it's got it all, and I'd nominate this show (excellent all-round) for a cleanup if possible.
He's Gone
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

Bliss. As close to a perfect statement of He's Gone as I know. The soloing is full of clear, purposeful ideas and Billy drives the whole thing forward with just the right amount of push, never letting it drag a bit. Could be much higher on the list.
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