headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

16
St. Stephen
Nov. 2, 1969
Family Dog at the Great Highway

One of the definitive DS>SS>11 suites and it power rocks on its own. Young'uns: don't forget good '69...fear not and dive in!
5
Wharf Rat
April 14, 1971
Davis Gym, Bucknell University

Stretches further out than earlier ones, like the Birdsong before they seemed to find WR's deeper groove and go furthur with it. Result? Beeyootiful.
5
Sing Me Back Home
April 14, 1971
Davis Gym, Bucknell University

Saddle up heads, this is one of the nicest ones I know. Pre-Donna Jean, but the boys cover it with driving intensity and its nicely mixed for the era.
2
Bertha
April 14, 1971
Davis Gym, Bucknell University

Nailed it. Part of the great April run that coalesces the '71 sound. Killing 1st set with manageable mix and saturation issues.
4
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
April 12, 1971
Civic Arena

One of the tightest and best jams I've ever heard. Absolute magic. Goes straight into a killer Lovelight. This is an amazing show. Check it out.

Comments

Cosmic Charlie
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

One of the best I know: They're having a blast. The growling grinding combination of Jerry and the keys (Pigpen? TC? both?) gives it an energetic tight swinging sound during the verses, and an unexpected almost punk-rock blown-amp sounding bridge to the "calling you" section. Cosmic Charlie is so legendary and mythic: People held banners at shows with the number of days past since it was last performed and annual set-lists would say Cosmic Charlie: 0 with a sad-face next to it. Hear it here in a uniquely tight and fun version.
Dark Star
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

TC is too high in the mix, but so what? In most recordings of the era it's almost impossible to hear any indication of what he brought, so this is an interesting document if nothing else. It's also musically a whirligig of fun, even if a bit scattered in places. Deduct points for the mix if you must.
Turn On Your Love Light
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

The stoned moron arhythmically yelling 'whoo whoooo' at the beginning and "Grateful Dead!!! Grateful Dead!!!" towards the end bring me right back to my tour days. ;-)
Dark Star
Jan. 24, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Fans of the Live Dead-era should really know this one. Sonically it shares a lot with the more famous ones of the era, but its flow is just as perfect and the ideas and clear telepathy between Jerry and Bobby throughout is gorgeous. There may be a bit of a tuning or tape-speed wobble in places, but the C.Miller cleanup is pristine.
New Potato Caboose
Aug. 24, 1968
Shrine Auditorium

Jerry's solo can ignite paper at 1000 yards too. I mean Phil gets a lot of deserving love here, but I just gotta add that bit about the guitarist.