headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49712


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

Not Fade Away
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Agreed with Whiskeyclone: It all comes together nicely here.
St. Stephen
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Damned good post-hiatus Steven, but the best? I just can't see it, not that 'best' is ever objective. More energetic would be 22 Jan '78 (hot stuff!), but for my stolen face I'd say any '69 Dark Star>Steven>The Eleven is as close to the Dead's ultimate essence as anything. Also check out 12-13 Oct. '68 for some phantasmogoric psychetropozebraosity straight from Mars that can yank you out of '77 and slingshot you into the prima materia.
Deal
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall - Cornell University

Ok, I'm a big pre-hiatus fan and all, but this is just a damned fine version. No question, Barton is a great show.
Morning Dew
Jan. 17, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

Rippingly good. Jerry's solos and vocals over the emerging '68 sound just blow this one over the top.
Dark Star
Dec. 18, 1973
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall

Really beautiful version, with a unique, but short MLB 'round about 8:00 or so. So many different lyrical and rhythmical evolutions throughout, and a glorious trip into the unknown realms incorporating a blown speaker in what 15 years later might be called a midi-jam.