headyversion

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merryjerry

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Submissions

9
The Wheel
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

It's so apt that The Wheel would roll into Truckin' that the outro is short but the rest is very nice.
9
Eyes Of The World
June 27, 1984
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Jerry really mines the changes on this one and pulls out plenty of little gold nuggets (like Coltrane). Good interplay, too. An inspired version.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

A cheesy video of this kickass version would have Garcia playing atop a steam locomotive as it barrels down the track.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Incomplete, but what remains is top-notch and essential.
10
Me and Bobby McGee
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

I just gotta nominate this one, that's all.
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Comments

Playin' In The Band
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

A good one. I love the twang that Jerry gets on the heads of this one--it's something he would do much more of later in the decade here and into the '80s. The jam portion is spacey but eloquent, with a nice soft wah sound from Jerry. Has Lagin on electric keys. The jam gives way to a nice drum solo before returning to the reprise.
Eyes Of The World
Sept. 21, 1974
Palais Des Sports

Starts with a nice intro. Jerry's lead between the 2nd and 3rd verses is a good one. I love the looseness of the outro segment, which features some unique moments--although it is on the short side. And definitely '74 Dead sometimes reminds me of Miles' stuff of the era, most especially on PITB. Maybe it's due to a combination of Lagin on electric keys and the 'dark' heaviness that often pervaded the jams. It's interesting to note, too, that both the Dead and Miles took a 'rest' around the same time and returned with new sounds.
Playin' In The Band
Aug. 20, 1972
San Jose Civic Auditorium

The SBD of this show is not pristine and on this PITB Keith suffers the most, at times being all but inaudible. Billy sometimes sounds a little distant. Jerry and Phil, however, come through loud and clear, and Bobby can be heard well enough sprinkling that pixie dust of his. This show gets a bad rap (if any rap at all) because of the sound but it's comparable to that of many Fall '72 shows. Check out the logic of Jerry's lines on this PITB.
Eyes Of The World
Feb. 23, 1974
Winterland Arena

Some very special stuff happens on this one. Essential listening, I would say, for fans of the tune and the era.
Comes A Time
May 4, 1977
The Palladium

Part of a Playin'>Comes a Time>Playin' sandwich. This one features a very unique Santana-like outro jam before going back into Playin'.
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