headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+48136


Submissions

10
Big Railroad Blues
May 23, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Utterly gobsmacked that this ain't here yet: It's a furious barnburner. Full of get up and go.
15
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.
13
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.
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Comments

New Potato Caboose
Jan. 27, 1967
Avalon Ballroom

Between the Human Be-In two weeks earlier and this blisteringly hot announcement to the "scene" the Dead seemed to go from pop psychedelica to the Danger Dead, with a swaggering, no prisoners, no bullshit muscle behind their prankster games. The sound quality here leaves some to be desired, and it fades out into VLB, but it's more than worth a listen. It'll steal your freakin' face, is what it'll do.
Viola Lee Blues
Jan. 27, 1967
Avalon Ballroom

By far the furthest jam and meltdown on any Viola thus far in the recorded history. The tape speed is a bit dubious, but the jam is an absolute must.
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Jan. 14, 1967
Polo Field, Golden Gate Park

Unmistakeably Charles Lloyd. Pretty hot flute, but he's no Pigpen on the rap.
Morning Dew
Jan. 14, 1967
Polo Field, Golden Gate Park

Until further notice, this is the first one. I admit it sounds pretty polished and full of gong, but who cares! It's brilliant, Jerry's vocals are sweet, and the jam has all the power of the Dew we know. Love it.
Dancin' in the Streets
Dec. 1, 1966
Studio demo

Jerry's tone and ideas - he chordal jamming as opposed to his single-note lines - remind me of the work that he did with Jefferson Airplane at right about this time while recording Surrealistic Pillow. Plus, and it's a big plus, this jam goes into a whole different place from the others of the time. For a bit it's a whirling Dervish or Algerian Nouba sound before Bobby cuts back in with the vocals, then a four-on-the-floor outro. Great stuff.
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