headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

9
Sugaree
Sept. 10, 1972
Hollywood Palladium

So perfect, it's hard to believe that people could improvise music like this together. This amazing show deserves a clean-up!
14
Big River
Dec. 6, 1973
Public Hall

Overlooked: Between one of this site's favorite HCSs and one of its favorite Dark Stars is a perfect, articulate, and virtuoso version of Big River.
3
Casey Jones
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Just outrageous. Problematic show b/c of mix and cuts in the source. Not here: just a blizzard of jam.
4
Greatest Story Ever Told
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Show is overlooked b/c mix problems, but they're absolutely on fire and this version shreds like all get-out. Call C. Miller for this one please!
6
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 28, 1972
Cleveland Public Hall

Could be massively heady, but Billy is so high in the mix that it's hard to follow others. Any cleaner versions out there? Has everything but the mix.
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Comments

Good Lovin'
April 6, 1971
Manhattan Center

Pig breaks it down for everyone, telling the crowd to just "take your clothes off" after building up to it. Apart from that generous and fine instruction, the different stages of the jam here really stand out. You can find the link between the Dead and Funkadelic's work of the era. Sounds in places like they were channeling Buddy Miles' work after the Band of Gypsies. The Dead were dialed way in to all of it and this one shows it.
Hard to Handle
March 24, 1971
Winterland Arena

Shows off the link between blues and acid rock like only the Dead of this era could do.
Good Lovin'
March 14, 1971
Camp Randall Field House

Brilliant barn burner of a jam out of the drum solo. It hangs back just enough to stay on the rails, Pigpen raps some, then it snakes its way back into the chorus in a uniquely sideways manner. Good stuff and an under-appreciated show all round.
Wharf Rat
Feb. 19, 1971
Capitol Theater

More interesting and self-confident than the first one, to my ears. I rate the melodicism and the overall arc of this jam above the 18th up top on this page. Still, I can't compare these early ones to the Spring-Summer '74 versions which top my list.
Wharf Rat
Feb. 18, 1971
Capitol Theater

First and best? I love this version, don't get me wrong. It being both the first one ever and sandwiched into a top-shelf Dark Star and Beautiful Jam help it by association, but I can't think of it as the best one out there. For my ears, May and June '74 is the apotheosis era, where Wharf Rat peaks on its own for power, emotion and musicality. My faves are 19.05.74 and 22.06.74, but anything from this time really stands out for the energy they were putting into it. I think the Rat played the next night and the one on the 21st from the same run are more cohesive and stronger performances.
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