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Before The Dead brings together a rare collection of the earliest known performances by Jerry Garcia. From an informal and intimate 1961 performance of simple folk songs at a birthday party with future songwriting partner Robert Hunter to more polished coffeehouse gigs with old-timey and bluegrass bands through 1964, this collection showcases Garcia’s deep study of the folk music tradition and its influence on his musical journey leading to the formation of the Grateful Dead. Even with his entire musical career in front of him, Garcia’s magnetic presence as a performer can be plainly heard in these first steps.
• Four CDs containing over 3.5 hours of studio & live performances culled from previously uncirculated masters and newly discovered recordings. Audio restoration and mastering by Fred Kevorkian.
• Produced by Grateful Dead publicist and biographer Dennis McNally and Brian Miksis.
• Includes a 32 page book with rare photos, memorabilia and in-depth liner note essays by McNally, Miksis, acclaimed bluegrass scholar Neil V. Rosenberg, Sara Ruppenthal Katz, and Stu Goldstein.
(The performance heard on Folk Time is also featured on Before the Dead.)
• Four CDs containing over 3.5 hours of studio & live performances culled from previously uncirculated masters and newly discovered recordings. Audio restoration and mastering by Fred Kevorkian.
• Produced by Grateful Dead publicist and biographer Dennis McNally and Brian Miksis.
• Includes a 32 page book with rare photos, memorabilia and in-depth liner note essays by McNally, Miksis, acclaimed bluegrass scholar Neil V. Rosenberg, Sara Ruppenthal Katz, and Stu Goldstein.
(The performance heard on Folk Time is also featured on Before the Dead.)
Additional Details
CD ONE
Bob and Jerry
May 26, 1961
Brigid Meier’s Sixteenth Birthday Party
Menlo Park, California
1. SANTY ANNO
2. I GOT A HOME IN THAT ROCK
3. OH, MARY DON’T YOU WEEP
4. ALL MY TRIALS
5. I WAS BORN TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO
6. BLOW THE CANDLES OUT
7. RAKE AND A RAMBLING BOY
8. TROUBLE IN MIND
Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter
July 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
9. BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
10. JESSE JAMES
Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician
Summer or Fall 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
11. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN
12. LONG LONESOME ROAD
13. RAILROAD BILL
14. THE WAGONER’S LAD
15. KATIE CRUEL
CD TWO:
Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers
June 11, 1962
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Peninsula Jewish Community Center
San Carlos, California
1. CANNONBALL BLUES
2. LITTLE BIRDIE
3. SALLY GOODIN
4. HOLD THAT WOODPILE DOWN
5. LEGEND OF THE JOHNSON BOYS
6. SHADY GROVE
7. SWEET SUNNY SOUTH
8. MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW
Hart Valley Drifters
Fall 1962
KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University
Stanford, California
9. BAND INTRODUCTIONS
10. ROVING GAMBLER
11. GROUND SPEED
12. PIG IN A PEN
13. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
14. FLINT HILL SPECIAL
15. NINE POUND HAMMER
16. HANDSOME MOLLY
17. CLINCH MOUNTAIN BACKSTEP
18. THINK OF WHAT YOU’VE DONE
19. CRIPPLE CREEK
20. ALL THE GOOD TIMES HAVE PAST AND GONE
21. BILLY GRIMES, THE ROVER
22. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
23. RUN MOUNTAIN
24. SUGAR BABY
25. SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
CD THREE:
The Wildwood Boys
February 23, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. ROLL IN MY SWEET BABY’S ARMS
2. JERRY’S BREAKDOWN
3. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
4. MULE SKINNER BLUES
5. SATURDAY NIGHT SHUFFLE
6. PIKE COUNTY BREAKDOWN
7. THE LITTLE SPARROW
8. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
Jerry and Sara
May 4, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
9. DEEP ELEM BLUES
10. WILL THE WEAVER
11. I TRULY UNDERSTAND
12. LONG BLACK VEIL
13. THE MAN WHO WROTE HOME SWEET HOME NEVER WAS A MARRIED MAN
14. FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP
CD FOUR:
Black Mountain Boys
Fall 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. BAREFOOT NELLIE
2. SHE’S MORE TO BE PITIED
3. NOAH’S BREAKDOWN
4. WHO WILL SING FOR ME?
Black Mountain Boys
January 10, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
5. SALT CREEK
6. MONROE’S HORNPIPE (JODY’S HORNPIPE)
7. ROSA LEE McFALL
8. JOHN HARDY/CLOSING THEME
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
9. KATIE KLINE
10. WALKIN’ THE DOG
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
11. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
12. LOVE AND WEALTH
13. SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN
14. IF I LOSE
15. HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM (I WONDER HOW THE OLD FOLKS ARE AT HOME)
16. STONEY CREEK
17. SALTY DOG BLUES
18. LOVE PLEASE COME HOME
19. MAKE ME A PALLET ON THE FLOOR
20. DARLIN’ ALLALEE
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
21. IN THE PINES
22. RAW HIDE
23. BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
24. TRUE LIFE BLUES
25. MEDLEY: DEVIL’S DREAM—SAILOR’S HORNPIPE
Black Mountain Boys
Spring 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
26. DRINK UP AND GO HOME
Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys
Summer 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
27. THESE MEN OF GOD
28. ROLL ON BUDDY
29. GOODBYE OLD PAL
30. BACK UP AND PUSH
Bob and Jerry
May 26, 1961
Brigid Meier’s Sixteenth Birthday Party
Menlo Park, California
1. SANTY ANNO
2. I GOT A HOME IN THAT ROCK
3. OH, MARY DON’T YOU WEEP
4. ALL MY TRIALS
5. I WAS BORN TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO
6. BLOW THE CANDLES OUT
7. RAKE AND A RAMBLING BOY
8. TROUBLE IN MIND
Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter
July 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
9. BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
10. JESSE JAMES
Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician
Summer or Fall 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
11. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN
12. LONG LONESOME ROAD
13. RAILROAD BILL
14. THE WAGONER’S LAD
15. KATIE CRUEL
CD TWO:
Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers
June 11, 1962
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Peninsula Jewish Community Center
San Carlos, California
1. CANNONBALL BLUES
2. LITTLE BIRDIE
3. SALLY GOODIN
4. HOLD THAT WOODPILE DOWN
5. LEGEND OF THE JOHNSON BOYS
6. SHADY GROVE
7. SWEET SUNNY SOUTH
8. MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW
Hart Valley Drifters
Fall 1962
KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University
Stanford, California
9. BAND INTRODUCTIONS
10. ROVING GAMBLER
11. GROUND SPEED
12. PIG IN A PEN
13. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
14. FLINT HILL SPECIAL
15. NINE POUND HAMMER
16. HANDSOME MOLLY
17. CLINCH MOUNTAIN BACKSTEP
18. THINK OF WHAT YOU’VE DONE
19. CRIPPLE CREEK
20. ALL THE GOOD TIMES HAVE PAST AND GONE
21. BILLY GRIMES, THE ROVER
22. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
23. RUN MOUNTAIN
24. SUGAR BABY
25. SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
CD THREE:
The Wildwood Boys
February 23, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. ROLL IN MY SWEET BABY’S ARMS
2. JERRY’S BREAKDOWN
3. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
4. MULE SKINNER BLUES
5. SATURDAY NIGHT SHUFFLE
6. PIKE COUNTY BREAKDOWN
7. THE LITTLE SPARROW
8. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
Jerry and Sara
May 4, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
9. DEEP ELEM BLUES
10. WILL THE WEAVER
11. I TRULY UNDERSTAND
12. LONG BLACK VEIL
13. THE MAN WHO WROTE HOME SWEET HOME NEVER WAS A MARRIED MAN
14. FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP
CD FOUR:
Black Mountain Boys
Fall 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. BAREFOOT NELLIE
2. SHE’S MORE TO BE PITIED
3. NOAH’S BREAKDOWN
4. WHO WILL SING FOR ME?
Black Mountain Boys
January 10, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
5. SALT CREEK
6. MONROE’S HORNPIPE (JODY’S HORNPIPE)
7. ROSA LEE McFALL
8. JOHN HARDY/CLOSING THEME
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
9. KATIE KLINE
10. WALKIN’ THE DOG
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
11. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
12. LOVE AND WEALTH
13. SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN
14. IF I LOSE
15. HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM (I WONDER HOW THE OLD FOLKS ARE AT HOME)
16. STONEY CREEK
17. SALTY DOG BLUES
18. LOVE PLEASE COME HOME
19. MAKE ME A PALLET ON THE FLOOR
20. DARLIN’ ALLALEE
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
21. IN THE PINES
22. RAW HIDE
23. BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
24. TRUE LIFE BLUES
25. MEDLEY: DEVIL’S DREAM—SAILOR’S HORNPIPE
Black Mountain Boys
Spring 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
26. DRINK UP AND GO HOME
Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys
Summer 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
27. THESE MEN OF GOD
28. ROLL ON BUDDY
29. GOODBYE OLD PAL
30. BACK UP AND PUSH
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Customer Reviews
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Chris LJune 18, 2024
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JoeMay 2, 2024I recently got this as a gift, all the music is very good but the 4th disc is exceptionally great, The Black Mountain Boys & The Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys. I was unable to view and download the digital book.
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Duane GoslarMarch 27, 2024I have had most of the recordings on this release for many years, and enjoyed hearing Garcia’s bluegrass material from this era very much! When the Family Provisions made it available, I couldn’t resist getting the release in sparkling quality! Thanks for releasing it!!
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BrionAugust 19, 2022It is an amazing early Jerry recording. A great add to my Jerry and Dead collection.
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Dan BreslinFebruary 22, 2022It was just okay . Disc 4 was by far the best .
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TerriFebruary 22, 2022We had an unusual spring like day in PA..We decided to sit outside and listen to the CD’s…What an extraordinary set of Jerry’s music before the Dead…We had a magical afternoon! What a treat! A must buy for all Jerry fans!
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MarkFebruary 15, 2022Was looking forward to this release and it was worth the wait! Jerry has a quality that was with him from start to finish! Great music for a look back at how it all got started! A must own for all the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia fans. Thanks for another classic
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SuperbobJanuary 26, 2022after seeing the dead at a love-in in Griffith Park in '67 I've been groovin' to the many iterations of the band and their music ever since. this Jerry before the dead harkens back to the days when there were the ubiquitous coffee houses in every city. enjoyed this album immensely.
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SteveJanuary 21, 2022Have been a Deadhead since I was 12 yo, And this is amazing hearing early Jerry and a different perspective on Jerry. And the quality is superb
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robert kendallJuly 1, 2020amazing to ear the banjo riffs that became jerry's signature guitar ideas. these are really amazing sounds
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Carol ScholtzMay 29, 2020We listened to the whole set all the way to the beach and had a grand old time.
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Dupree207May 22, 2020This purchase has given me a more earthly perpective on Jerry as he runs through early bluegrass and folk tunes, each complimenting that certain tone that Jerry always seems to emulate-- regardless of what year it may be. That classic understanding of struggle and happiness; the wholesomeness that drove sound throughout his whole career. The bucolic rawness makes the music all the more insightful as each song sheds a little more light on Jerry's roots as a gifted bluegrass and folk artist. The roots that were able to grow deep enough to mount the foundation for what has now become a legacy with intangible worth. Needless to say, it was well worth the purchase. Thank you for the release!! NFA
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DitsMay 15, 2020Beautiful, thank you so much, we’ll done
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Michael VanDeusenApril 20, 2020Just listened to this set from start to finish,and even though I already had some of this on tapes,it sounds so much better cleaned up,and digital. Quite the history of early Jerry music,I’m glad I finally added this to my collection!
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Billy DJanuary 20, 2020This set of CDs is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. Disk 2 is as strong of a bluegrass collection as any of the rest of my favorite disks. Even without the Dead, Jerry would have been a beloved and highly regarded acoustic Americana curator just on the strengths of what he had demonstrated in 1961-1962. I LOVE this collection! And I completely agree with the other comments here... Jerry did become a "mind-blowing banjo virtuoso" through the course of these recordings. Getting to listen to such an extensive documentation of this man's journey through American music to the point where he began writing a new Legacy himself is both a treat and a privilege.
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