Before The Dead 4-CD Set or Digital Download

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.) 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 DONT 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 Boars Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall San Carlos, California 9. BROWNS FERRY BLUES 10. JESSE JAMES Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician Summer or Fall 1961 Boars Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall San Carlos, California 11. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN 12. LONG LONESOME ROAD 13. RAILROAD BILL 14. THE WAGONERS LAD 15. KATIE CRUEL CD TWO: Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers June 11, 1962 Boars 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 YOUVE 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 BABYS ARMS 2. JERRYS 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. SHES MORE TO BE PITIED 3. NOAHS BREAKDOWN 4. WHO WILL SING FOR ME? Black Mountain Boys January 10, 1964 Top of the Tangent Palo Alto, California 5. SALT CREEK 6. MONROES HORNPIPE (JODYS 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: DEVILS DREAM>SAILORS 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