headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

please login or register.

Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49667


Submissions

16
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.
15
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.
8
Mister Charlie
May 13, 1972
Lille Fairgrounds

Distinctly slower, with a greasier funk vibe. Surprised it isn't here. Different from the others and lots of fun.
show more submissions

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Dec. 1, 1973
Music Hall

Finding the FGJ in during the transition is that moment where a thousand hours of listening condenses into a minute of bliss. This is also where the 1st set picks up steam and gives a peak into what's in store for the rest of the night. The Boston '73 run is a desert island set and somehow the middle show (this one) gets overlooked by the twin towers on either side, but wow this is just gorgeous. Heads should give it a go you haven't listened to it yet - or come back to it again if it's been a while.
Space
Oct. 19, 1974
Winterland Arena

Absolutely right, I'm refering to the magical Seastones here. I feel like there's an historic evolution to the "boys' noise toys" from the brilliant 'Feedback' sessions in '69 through to Seastones in '74 and eventually the formalised "Space" coming out of Drums in the '80s. We don't have a separate song category for Feedback or Seastones, so I just clump all together here. Glad you both like it.
Caution
Nov. 8, 1969
Fillmore West

As if this show couldn't get any better... there's that magical Main Ten right there in the middle of Caution. This whole suite is bursting with ideas and themes, and jams within jams within jams. It's like 30 years of music were born on stage, live, and in real time.
The Eleven
Nov. 8, 1969
Fillmore West

Riding a "cloud of chariots" is so right on that Ernie wins a gold star and a half-sheet of the clean and crisp. The 'hot mellow' sound they perfected in '70 and again in '73 and again in '76 is here: Laid back but absolutely furious. This may be the only William Tell Overture where they hold it together and don't start cracking up over the corndog lyrics too.
Uncle John's Band
Nov. 8, 1969
Fillmore West

This is every subatomic particle of the universe contained within the first billionth of a second following the big bang. It's Dark Star, it's The Other One, it's UJB, it's spontaneous and it's the Grateful Dead performing infinity, infinitely.
show more comments
headyversion loves the dead but is in no way affiliated with The Grateful Dead or affiliated enterprises. find out more >:) >:)