headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

4
Loser
July 31, 1971
Yale Bowl, Yale University

Garcia crushes the guitar break and everything else.
2
Candyman
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre

Warm, gooey, and dynamic.
2
Jack Straw
July 22, 1972
Paramount Northwest Theatre

Casually Regal - An Eatery
16
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Feb. 21, 1971
Capitol Theater

Crackling with energy. Tight as a single drummer.
5
Estimated Prophet
Sept. 28, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Garcia skipping to the lou in warm stereo ooze

Comments

Bertha
Nov. 14, 1971
Texas Christian University

What a welcome wagon number! Godchaux sets a commanding tone for the rhythm section and they hop to it. Then the break comes - Weir & Garcia just melt faces. Yeah - you can really entertain the troops with two electric guitars.
Bird Song
Nov. 22, 1972
Austin Municipal Auditorium

Late. 1972. Bird Song. Detailed, subtle, swinging version with the band in absolute control. Intense, but doesn't explode - controlled enthusiasm. I like it all the more for the swingin' restraint.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 27, 1970
Legion Stadium

Difficult to argue with the introductory assessment here.
Sugaree
May 3, 1977
The Palladium

A lovely audience recording captures perfectly just what a dynamics-controlling machine they had become. The hand-claps [must they ALWAYS be on the one guys???] and whistles add a deep warmth to a typically wonderful May 1977 Sugaree. Typical = patient, unpredictable, and pretty dag telepathic. Garcia rules, of course, but Godchaux has his hands on the dynamics controls. And those are safe hands.
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 11, 1974
Alexandra Palace

In the skating world, one would say "good edge work." They breeze through with the lightest of touch, yet not wishy-washy; they mean exactly what they're doing. At around 6 minutes or so, Garcia really takes a deep swan dive into marshmallow creme. A lovely '74 Playin'.