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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.
• Limited Edition of 2,500 sets.
• Five 180-gram LPs 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. Lacquers cut by Ron McMaster at Capitol Studios and pressed to vinyl by Quality Record Pressings.
• 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.
• Limited Edition of 2,500 sets.
• Five 180-gram LPs 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. Lacquers cut by Ron McMaster at Capitol Studios and pressed to vinyl by Quality Record Pressings.
• 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.
Additional Details
SIDE 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
SIDE TWO:
Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter
July 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
1. BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
2. JESSE JAMES
Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician
Summer or Fall 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
3. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN
4. LONG LONESOME ROAD
5. RAILROAD BILL
6. THE WAGONER’S LAD
7. KATIE CRUEL
SIDE THREE:
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
SIDE FOUR & FIVE
Hart Valley Drifters
Fall 1962
KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University
Stanford, California
1. BAND INTRODUCTIONS
2. ROVING GAMBLER
3. GROUND SPEED
4. PIG IN A PEN
5. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
6. FLINT HILL SPECIAL
7. NINE POUND HAMMER
8. HANDSOME MOLLY
9. CLINCH MOUNTAIN BACKSTEP
1. THINK OF WHAT YOU’VE DONE
2. CRIPPLE CREEK
3. ALL THE GOOD TIMES HAVE PAST AND GONE
4. BILLY GRIMES, THE ROVER
5. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
6. RUN MOUNTAIN
7. SUGAR BABY
8. SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
SIDE SIX:
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
SIDE SEVEN:
Jerry and Sara
May 4, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. DEEP ELEM BLUES
2. WILL THE WEAVER
3. I TRULY UNDERSTAND
4. LONG BLACK VEIL
5. THE MAN WHO WROTE HOME SWEET HOME NEVER WAS A MARRIED MAN
6. FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP
SIDE EIGHT:
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
SIDE NINE:
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
2. LOVE AND WEALTH
3. SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN
4. IF I LOSE
5. HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM (I WONDER HOW THE OLD FOLKS ARE AT HOME)
6. STONEY CREEK
7. SALTY DOG BLUES
8. LOVE PLEASE COME HOME
9. MAKE ME A PALLET ON THE FLOOR
10. DARLIN’ ALLALEE
SIDE TEN:
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. IN THE PINES
2. RAW HIDE
3. BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
4. TRUE LIFE BLUES
5. MEDLEY: DEVIL’S DREAM—SAILOR’S HORNPIPE
Black Mountain Boys
Spring 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
6. DRINK UP AND GO HOME
Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys
Summer 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
7. THESE MEN OF GOD
8. ROLL ON BUDDY
9. GOODBYE OLD PAL
10. 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
SIDE TWO:
Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter
July 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
1. BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
2. JESSE JAMES
Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician
Summer or Fall 1961
Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall
San Carlos, California
3. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN
4. LONG LONESOME ROAD
5. RAILROAD BILL
6. THE WAGONER’S LAD
7. KATIE CRUEL
SIDE THREE:
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
SIDE FOUR & FIVE
Hart Valley Drifters
Fall 1962
KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University
Stanford, California
1. BAND INTRODUCTIONS
2. ROVING GAMBLER
3. GROUND SPEED
4. PIG IN A PEN
5. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
6. FLINT HILL SPECIAL
7. NINE POUND HAMMER
8. HANDSOME MOLLY
9. CLINCH MOUNTAIN BACKSTEP
1. THINK OF WHAT YOU’VE DONE
2. CRIPPLE CREEK
3. ALL THE GOOD TIMES HAVE PAST AND GONE
4. BILLY GRIMES, THE ROVER
5. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
6. RUN MOUNTAIN
7. SUGAR BABY
8. SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
SIDE SIX:
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
SIDE SEVEN:
Jerry and Sara
May 4, 1963
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. DEEP ELEM BLUES
2. WILL THE WEAVER
3. I TRULY UNDERSTAND
4. LONG BLACK VEIL
5. THE MAN WHO WROTE HOME SWEET HOME NEVER WAS A MARRIED MAN
6. FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOP
SIDE EIGHT:
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
SIDE NINE:
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY’S ALL GONE)
2. LOVE AND WEALTH
3. SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN
4. IF I LOSE
5. HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM (I WONDER HOW THE OLD FOLKS ARE AT HOME)
6. STONEY CREEK
7. SALTY DOG BLUES
8. LOVE PLEASE COME HOME
9. MAKE ME A PALLET ON THE FLOOR
10. DARLIN’ ALLALEE
SIDE TEN:
Black Mountain Boys
March 6, 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
1. IN THE PINES
2. RAW HIDE
3. BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
4. TRUE LIFE BLUES
5. MEDLEY: DEVIL’S DREAM—SAILOR’S HORNPIPE
Black Mountain Boys
Spring 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
6. DRINK UP AND GO HOME
Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys
Summer 1964
Top of the Tangent
Palo Alto, California
7. THESE MEN OF GOD
8. ROLL ON BUDDY
9. GOODBYE OLD PAL
10. BACK UP AND PUSH
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Customer Reviews
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Michael TeuberMay 30, 2018Fantastic Release
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Lonny TiedemanMay 24, 2018Best Jerry box set so far. The Garcia Family Provions have never been able to put out the music collections that Dead.net has, except for “Before the Dead” has blown them out of the water.
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Chris SchonbergerMay 23, 2018Excellent packaging and delivery, just the way you like it. Knowing Jerry's early work this is an excellent addition to our collection. Box set arrived packaged solid, very nice sound quality and put together well. We are two of the lucky ones to have a vinyl copy. Well done
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Kevin SeamanMay 23, 2018The whole story simply can't be told without this set. Even the most learned historians of Jerry Garcia and GD music can learn a thing or ten from this. Before The Dead is literally the Jerry Garcia origins story that fans have been waiting decades for. As you listen to it straight through, you can actually feel and hear Jerry finding himself musically in the most organic possible way. It's clear that Jerry was never as "at home" as he was playing bluegrass. The effort and heart that went into assembling this set is immediately clear upon your first listen. Big thanks to the Garcia Family for always allowing me to opt for fun in this lifetime!
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Hunter youngMay 23, 2018Let me start by saying beautiful presentation, the content needs no introduction. What a wonderful collection. Jerry is the man so many wonderful recordings. Rounder Records??. If you like the dead Jerry bluegrass oldtime and vinyl, then this is a no brainer ??buy this before it’s gone and you regret it. Thank you Garcia family
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Bryan BuchanMay 23, 2018AMAZING!! I listened to the entire box set, began within moments of receiving it in the mail. What a collection, thank you!! I would order something similar again, VERY WELL DONE! As far as feedback, It would be nice to have these numbered since it was a limited release. It would be nice to have an MP3 copy, but not a deal breaker. The quality of the pressing was good, but a few records, initially finding the grove from the lead in was difficult and I had to reset my needle, (more than a one-off issue). Also they were a little dirty, each record needed to be cleaned, a few twice before they would play decently once opened for the first time. Thanks again for bringing this collection to his fans, truly a treat!
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Dan EvansMay 22, 2018I loved all of the records. I don’t have tapes so I consider myself priveledged to have had the opportunity to hear Jerry begin his journey with so many who encircled his life at so many times in his career. I was shocked at the quality of most of the recordings—considering the primitive tools—-they were great quality.
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Buddy AMay 22, 2018What an incredible piece(s) of history to be able to own. Each recording is better than the next. The accompanying liner notes are a great insight in to the true genius that was Jerry.
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Grateful JeffMay 22, 2018Another fantastic release from the JG archives. Jerry’s contribution to mankind can never be fully understood, but be certain the human race is better because of his existence. Releases like this continue to add to his legacy of being one of the most interesting, influential persona to ever walk the face of the earth. Thanks for everything Jerry! May you never be forgotten and Rest in our hearts forever.
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Justin BoucherMay 22, 2018Love these records, they’re amazing and I’m thankful to have them but wish it also came with an MP3 download.
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Nick CoxMay 18, 2018Both Jerry and Robert are wonderful people. To have both of them on this set is truly remarkable. I want to pave the way for my generation with their music. Bringing heart and soul back into this crushing wake we call reality.
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Jim IzziMarch 9, 2018I have some of these recordings on tape, captured along time ago on the radio. Can't wait to hear the rest of these gems. We are in for a real treat!! Thanks to all who worked on this project!
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