headyversion

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

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Submissions

6
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Energetic, serene AND Garcia's break is pure ragtime gold. In a good TJ, the guitar is a character. Here: a little insolent. Quality.
2
The Wheel
June 28, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

That spacious, unadorned June 1976 sound is so perfect for The Wheel. This one's dynamic and delivered with feeling. Cool show.
2
Cumberland Blues
March 20, 1971
University of Iowa

Oh man: LISTEN! Vocals are mixed a bit high, but this Cumberland has all the important "little" details. Notes the quotes. B'AM!!!!
1
Tennessee Jed
July 12, 1976
Orpheum Theater

1976: Your standard issue tipsy, warm-hearted TJ of the period. The guitar break is more conversation than guitar solo. Standard but special.
2
Candyman
July 12, 1976
Orpheum Theater

Spare, almost vulnerable take on this classic. Godchaux brings the church and Garcia brings the stained glass. An American beauty.
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Comments

Scarlet Begonias
April 29, 1977
The Palladium

Love the long intro - that's always a treat. Good, raucous audience, but you can pretty much hear everything. Tennessee says it's "relaxed and unforced" & that's dead on. Imperfect, but full of charm. Garcia is in that reading-defenses mode - going to second and third reads and just taking what the defense gives him. A very unique outro with the heavy arpeggiation forming a mesmerizing pattern until Garcia skitters out with the smokin' pitterpat of TB notes.
Dire Wolf
April 16, 1972
Aarhus University

Authoritative. Following a lethal, mini-epic Playin', this does more than simply cleanse the palette; it's a display: band at full confidence & swagger.
Playin' In The Band
April 16, 1972
Aarhus University

Perfect length, easy acceleration. Garcia's ridiculously under-appreciated wah work with Godchaux Van Gelder resonant chord comps. At its peak, it is so completely its own beast. And it is a beast. Biblical.
The Other One
Aug. 24, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Yeah: "raw, elemental" is right! This is no frills with all the frills. Crisp, psychedelic, slaloming colossus.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Feb. 3, 1979
Market Square Arena

Pretty smokin' Garcia guitar break in Scarlet. Good sounding audience. But not a favorite for me. Drummers are flopping around like fish on a dock. Garcia forgets the verse after the bridge on Scarlet - that's one of those things that annoys the fuck out of me! Irrational of me, perhaps. I hate to be a dick about it, but this one lacks the detail of the best Scarlet>Fires. Has some inspirational moments, but also lots of sloppy work and Godchaux's often barely there. In general, a little too much indistinct musical chatter for my tastes. Still, totally worth a listen, but not competitive with the truly elite renditions. To me.
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