headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49672


Submissions

2
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 15, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Kicks off an excellent show with intense and driving energy. The quintet is super-charged and bursting with energy. One of the best versions I know.
2
Playin' In The Band
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Packs a lot into its 4.5 short minutes. Great bass-heavy SBD gives you a Phil masterclass. Love the short ones, love the long ones....
4
Casey Jones
Aug. 5, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

Just kickin', this one. The whole show is dynamite.
2
El Paso
Aug. 4, 1971
Terminal Island Correctional Facility

One of the slower waltz versions, with lovely vocals from Cowboy Bob, who gives us a nice country warble. Sweet backup harmony and Jer being Jer.
6
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Aug. 4, 1971
Terminal Island Correctional Facility

Philzone masterclass. Hot and tight jam, the Rider three-part harmonies sound like some of the acoustic versions from the previous year.

Comments

Estimated Prophet
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

7/4 time is extremely tough to groove to, but they not only find their way, but somehow seem to soar over it. For my money, Estimated is one of their most conceptually complex songs, musically, lyrics-wise, and in terms of the thematics of madness. Check out the conversation at The Well about it.
Jack Straw
Oct. 29, 1977
Evans Field House, Northern Illinois University

I wouldn't call it "laid back" like brother Dante sez, but more "outta flippin' sight". Jerry tore it open with the Might As Well opener, but Bobby stepped right up and conquers it with this warm-up. With energy like these two to start the show, you just know the heads lucky enough to be there were in for a good one. One of the best from '77, and that tells you something!
Caution
Aug. 23, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

And now a comment on the '2nd show' - probably the real date. It's buried in the track listed "Drums Alligator" and it will blister your brain and melt your bones. Hard driving acid Dead here, folks. Just goddamned amazing music.
Caution
Aug. 23, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Loads of confusion re: the source tapes and dates. Archive has a two separate shows on one date, (the "live concert" version). This comment is for the 'first show', which is apparently from some unknown date, but who cares! It's freaking amazing. Souped up and fast, with Pig in fine, if not slightly slurred form, it's a brilliant snapshot of the power psychedelia of the time. I'll listen to the 'real' 23.08 next, which is evidently on 2FTV.
Alligator
Aug. 21, 1968
Fillmore West

Mountain Jam melody clearly stated at 05:00. (Along with a whole "We Bid You Goodnight" melody 90 seconds later.) This jam is massively epic. I always somehow come back to '68 and '69 as the source of it all.