Jerry Garcia "Before the Dead"
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This arrived yesterday and I've taken in about half of it. Surprisingly good recordings and even more surprising is the consistency of the quality throughout, it all sounds pretty much the same and much better than I anticipated. It's very cleaned up and amazingly clear for both the time period and the equipment used (which I assume was an early 60's Wollensack reel to reel or some equivalent).
The stuff from 1961 with Jerry and Hunter at Brigid Meir's 16th birthday party is a hoot, just what you'd expect from teenagers at that time. I had two older cousins who were into the folk movement and it reminded me of the stuff they used to play. Also really like the material with Jerry, Hunter, and Marshall Leicester from '61 at the Boar's Head and the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers (with Dick Arnold on fiddle) from 1962, good old timey material. Rodney Albin recorded these Boar's Head shows. Jerry's guitar parts are perfect for the material, you can really hear the influence of bands lik the New Lost City Ramblers. He also does a nice finger picking job on Trouble in Mind.
Was a bit disappointed on the first listen to the material with Garcia on banjo from '63 and '64, it's a bit more sloppy than the earlier stuff and Jerry really seems to rush his parts. But I haven't listened to most of it so that might be premature.
The stuff with Sara is great. Jerry plays some fantastic mandolin and her vocals are really good. Good stuff.
It's really great to hear these early performances and really get an idea of just where he was at in this early stage of his career. It's one thing to read about it, another to hear it.
Highly recommended.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thomas O' Bagenhammers
The stage banter is also
The stage banter is also great. Jerry spends a lot of time bantering and telling stories. At a gig with Nelson they introduce him as "Silent Dave, who never says anything and hopes to grow up to be a real boy some day."
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJWMHdT1nZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFmh91fnXTw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP_cMpuEt0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvs00I1PWvs
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thomas O' Bagenhammers
Slight correction.....
Slight correction.....
It's "Simple Dave Nelson, the Sphinx who never says anything and hopes to grow up to be a real boy."
Also, the banjo stuff that I listened to was from '62 so it's understandable that it wouldn't be his best, he has been playing banjo less than a year at that point.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
sounds fun and interesting
sounds fun and interesting thom
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
amazing package, always great
amazing package, always great to see early pix that havent circulated and the listening notes are substantial for a change. There is a reason that Hunter and Nelson open parts of my soul that no one else since Garcia died have been able reach.
I actually find it enjoyable to listen to Garcias' progression as a player thorough the years. You can still hear those familiar fingers when all they do is strum. good release
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind
SO excited about receiving
SO excited about receiving this incredible 5 LP Vinyl set, which documents Jerry Garcia, Bob Hunter (“Bob & Jerry”), David Nelson, Sandy Rothman, Jerry & Sara Garcia, The Black Mountain Boys and other configurations from long before the Dead or the Warlocks were ever conceived. These reel to reel home and venue recordings, of surprisingly good sonic and musical quality, date back to 1961 through ‘64. They show Jerry as a budding Folkie/Americana expert and multi-instrumentalist, while he was barely out of his teens, and having a hoot in the process! This collection is a treasure with only 2,500 being released! Pleased to have also received the companion CD set along with it. Kudos to the extended Dead Family on a beautiful package of 180 gram Vinyl and accompanying liner notes. Huzzah!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thomas O' Bagenhammers
Hmm, vinyl.
Hmm, vinyl.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dan
The vinyl box looks nice.
The vinyl box looks nice. There’s nothing like the feel of the albums and liner notes.
I’ll pass though and give the $105 to some newer artist. The Jonathan Wilson package was outstanding and I’m waiting for the newest Howlin Rain.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
I just got back from vacation
I just got back from vacation and the CD package was waiting for me. I can’t wait to give it a listen.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
I was surprised that they
I was surprised that they skimped on the listening notes for the CD set and offered a download instead. The booklet that came with the vinyl set is fantastic. But I guess the pricepoint of the CD makes up for it
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Scott
Hmmmm-just got mine and
Hmmmm-just got mine and noticed that the whole Hart Valley Drifters set was already released-doh.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Listened a couple of times
Listened a couple of times now and digging the talking between songs. Someone’s mom wants to know if anyone wants more food, Jerry says he will never play rock and roll, little history lessons about old timey songs etc.
I also hear seeds of future GD songs, including similar lyrics. Little Birdie and Box of Rain, and many more.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
I wonder if Jerry was aware
I wonder if Jerry was aware of these recordings later in life and what he would think of this release. Has Robert Hunter or David Nelson commented?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
It was Brigid Meiers Mom at
It was Brigid Meiers Mom at her birthday party. Its esp interesting as he had met Hunter only a month before this recording together so it really is the root of all things.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0U9_RZJMQyo
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
>>I wonder if Jerry would
>>I wonder if Jerry would
Jerry would have sand bagged that project until right around now and put some thought into it and used its audio for film work that Jerry would doing right now. It would have been for free.