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 ONEBob and JerryMay 26, 1961Brigid Meier's Sixteenth Birthday Party Menlo Park, California1. SANTY ANNO2. I GOT A HOME IN THAT ROCK3. OH, MARY DONT YOU WEEP4. ALL MY TRIALS5. I WAS BORN TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO6. BLOW THE CANDLES OUT7. RAKE AND A RAMBLING BOY8. TROUBLE IN MIND Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter July 1961Boars Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book StallSan Carlos, California9. BROWNS FERRY BLUES10. JESSE JAMESJerry Garcia and Unknown MusicianSummer or Fall 1961Boars Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book StallSan Carlos, California11. DOWN IN THE WILLOW GARDEN12. LONG LONESOME ROAD13. RAILROAD BILL14. THE WAGONERS LAD15. KATIE CRUELCD TWO: Sleepy Hollow Hog StompersJune 11, 1962Boars Head Coffeehouse, Peninsula Jewish Community CenterSan Carlos, California1. CANNONBALL BLUES2. LITTLE BIRDIE3. SALLY GOODIN4. HOLD THAT WOODPILE DOWN5. LEGEND OF THE JOHNSON BOYS6. SHADY GROVE7. SWEET SUNNY SOUTH8. MAN OF CONSTANT SORROWHart Valley DriftersFall 1962KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University Stanford, California9. BAND INTRODUCTIONS10. ROVING GAMBLER11. GROUND SPEED12. PIG IN A PEN13. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER14. FLINT HILL SPECIAL15. NINE POUND HAMMER16. HANDSOME MOLLY17. CLINCH MOUNTAIN BACKSTEP18. THINK OF WHAT YOUVE DONE19. CRIPPLE CREEK20. ALL THE GOOD TIMES HAVE PAST AND GONE21. BILLY GRIMES, THE ROVER22. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY'S ALL GONE)23. RUN MOUNTAIN24. SUGAR BABY25. SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLDCD THREE:The Wildwood BoysFebruary 23, 1963Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California1. ROLL IN MY SWEET BABYS ARMS2. JERRYS BREAKDOWN3. STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER 4. MULE SKINNER BLUES5. SATURDAY NIGHT SHUFFLE6. PIKE COUNTY BREAKDOWN7. THE LITTLE SPARROW8. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED Jerry and SaraMay 4, 1963Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California9. DEEP ELEM BLUES10. WILL THE WEAVER11. I TRULY UNDERSTAND12. LONG BLACK VEIL13. THE MAN WHO WROTE HOME SWEET HOME NEVER WAS A MARRIED MAN14. FOGGY MOUNTAIN TOPCD FOUR:Black Mountain BoysFall 1963 Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California1. BAREFOOT NELLIE2. SHES MORE TO BE PITIED3. NOAHS BREAKDOWN4. WHO WILL SING FOR ME?Black Mountain BoysJanuary 10, 1964 Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California5. SALT CREEK6. MONROES HORNPIPE (JODYS HORNPIPE)7. ROSA LEE McFALL8. JOHN HARDY/CLOSING THEMEBlack Mountain BoysMarch 6, 1964 Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California9. KATIE KLINE10. WALKIN THE DOGBlack Mountain BoysMarch 6, 1964Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California11. PADDY ON THE TURNPIKE (BOYS, MY MONEY'S ALL GONE)12. LOVE AND WEALTH13. SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN14. IF I LOSE15. HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM (I WONDER HOW THE OLD FOLKS ARE AT HOME)16. STONEY CREEK17. SALTY DOG BLUES18. LOVE PLEASE COME HOME19. MAKE ME A PALLET ON THE FLOOR20. DARLIN ALLALEEBlack Mountain BoysMarch 6, 1964Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California21. IN THE PINES22. RAW HIDE23. BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG24. TRUE LIFE BLUES25. MEDLEY: DEVILS DREAM>SAILORS HORNPIPEBlack Mountain BoysSpring 1964Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California26. DRINK UP AND GO HOMEAsphalt Jungle Mountain BoysSummer 1964Top of the TangentPalo Alto, California27. THESE MEN OF GOD28. ROLL ON BUDDY29. GOODBYE OLD PAL30. BACK UP AND PUSH
