The greatest nine-fingered guitarist of his generation, which is probably not how history will remember the man, since one can only hope that history has more respect for the dead than I do. Speaking of which, yes, the Dead. Jerry Garcia was the great big teddy bear in the middle, his crazy fingers moving along the strings like lazy lightning while he walked his way through the american songbook. On the off chance that you live past 100, there is a lifetime of recorded music by the Dead to enjoy, with Garcia fixed firmly at its center.
As if that weren’t enough (and, honestly, it were and thensum), Garcia has also recorded more than a dozen albums of solo music over the years, including two incarnations of the Jerry Garcia Band as well as ongoing releases with longtime, local collaborators like David Grisman and Merl Saunders. Generally, the solo albums became less essential with time, with Jerry Garcia (1972) being very, very essential. Perhaps fittingly (or maddeningly, depending), Garcia’s live recordings have also received the attention of tireless archivists, so the rest of us can experience the magic of hearing Garcia sing Hank Snow’s “I’m Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail” on a Friday night at some community college.
In navigating through Garcia’s discography, keep in mind that his major-label recordings tend to mimic his music with the Dead at the time (e.g., Cats Under The Stars doesn’t sound radically different from Shakedown Street). The collaborations, on the other hand, can run the gamut from avant-garde (Hooteroll?) to bluegrass (Old & In The Way). While some are better than others, all of Garcia’s releases reveal a deep affection for american music matched only by a bottomless generosity to share it with others.
The Discography
HOOTEROLL? (1971)
South Side Strut / A Trip To What Next / Up From The Desert // DC-502 / One A.M. Approach / Uncle Martin’s / Da Birg Song. Co-credited to Howard Wales and released on elpee and 8-track in July 1971 in the US (Douglas, KZ/ZA 30859) and the UK (Douglas, DGL-69013) with gatefold cover. 8-track has different track listing. Re-issued on elpee, cassette and compact disc in 1987 in the US (Rykodisc, RALP/RACS 0052/RCD 10052) with different tracks and track listing. Re-issued on compact disc in 2003 in the US (Evolver/Douglas, EVL2016-2). Re-released on expanded compact disc on September 14, 2010 in the UK (Wienerworld, AD-06) with two bonus tracks.
South Side Strut (1971)
b/w Uncle Martin’s. Released on 7-inch in 1971 (Douglas, ZS7 6501).
GARCIA (1972)
Deal / Bird Song / Sugaree / Loser / Late For Supper / Spidergawd / Eep Hour / To Lay Me Down / An Odd Little Place / The Wheel. Released on elpee and 8-track on January 20, 1972 in the US and Canada (Warner Bros., BS/WARM8-2582), the UK (Warner Bros., K-46139) and Japan (Warners, P-8184W); reached #35 on the US charts. Re-released on CD and cassette in 1989 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD/GDC-4003) and on CD in 1989 in Germany (Line, GDCD9.006560).
Deal (1972)
b/w The Wheel. Released on 7-inch in January 1972 in the US and Canada (Warner Bros., 7551) and France (Warner Bros., 16 146) with picture sleeve. The French version reverses the A and B sides.
Sugaree (1972)
b/w Eep Hour (US), Deal (GER). Released on 7-inch in 1972 in the US (Warner Bros., WB-7569) and Germany (Warner Bros., WB 16 170) with picture sleeve; reached #94 on the US charts.
LIVE AT KEYSTONE (1973)
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers / Positively 4th Street / The Harder They Come / It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry / Space / It’s No Use // That’s All Right, Mama / My Funny Valentine / Someday Baby / Like A Road. Released on 2LP in 1973 in the US (Fantasy, F-79002 with brown labels) and Japan (Fantasy, LFP-93121B) with gatefold cover. Re-issued on 2LP in the US (Fantasy, F-79002 with blue labels) and Japan (Fantasy, VIP-9531/2) with gatefold cover. Re-released on two separate elpees in 1989 in the US as Live At Keystone, Volume I (Fantasy, MPF-4535) and Live At Keystone, Volume II (Fantasy, MPF-4536). Volumes I & II re-released on two separate, expanded compact discs in 2000 in the US (Fantasy, FCD-7701/2). Volume I re-released on expanded super audio compact disc in 2004 in the US (Fantasy, 7326).
GARCIA (1974)
Let It Rock / When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Russian Lullaby / Turn On The Bright Lights / He Ain’t Give You None / What Goes Around / Let’s Spend The Night Together / Mississippi Moon / Midnight Town. Released on elpee and 8-track in June 1974 in the US and Canada (Warner Bros., BS/WARM8-2582), the UK (Warner Bros., K-46139) and Japan (Warners, P-8184W); reached #35 on the US charts. Re-issued on elpee, CD and cassette in 1989 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD/GDC-4003), Australia (Grateful Dead, L30166) and Germany (Line, GDCD 9.00656).
Let It Rock (1974)
b/w Midnight Town. Released on 7-inch on June 21, 1974 in the US (Round, RX 4504).
REFLECTIONS (1976)
Might As Well / Mission In The Rain / They Love Each Other / I’ll Take A Melody / It Must Have Been The Roses / Tore Up Over You / Catfish John / Comes A Time. Released on elpee in February 1976 in the US (Round, RX-107 and RX-LA565-G), Germany (Round, UAS-29922) and Japan (Liberty, LLS-80501); reached #42 on the US charts. Re-released on elpee in Japan (United Artists, LAX-132). Re-released on CD and cassette in 1989 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD/GDC-4008).
CATS UNDER THE STARS (1978)
Rubin And Cherise / Love In The Afternoon / Palm Sunday / Cats Under The Stars / Rhapsody In Red / Rain / Down Home / Gomorrah. Released on elpee in April 1978 in the US (Arista, AB-4160) and Japan (Arista, IES-81087); reached #114 on the US charts. Original elpee features a lyrics innersleeve. Re-released on CD and cassette in the US (Arista, ARCD/AC-8535) and on CD in 2000 in Japan (BMG, BVCM-37146). Re-released on expanded CD (feat. 7 bonus tracks) on April 12, 2005 in the US (Rhino, 79507).
RUN FOR THE ROSES (1982)
Run For The Roses / I Saw Her Standing There / Without Love / Midnight Getaway // Leave That Little Girl Alone / Valerie / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Released on elpee in November 1982 in the US (Arista, AL-9603) and the UK and Germany (Arista, 204.973); reached #100 on the US charts. Re-released on CD and cassette in the US (Arista, ARCD/AC-8557) and on CD in 2000 in Japan (BMG, BVCM-37147). Re-released on expanded CD (feat. 6 bonus tracks) on April 12, 2005 in the US and the UK (Rhino, 79508).
KEYSTONE ENCORES (1988)
Live tracks: Hi-Heel Sneakers / It’s Too Late (She’s Gone) / I Second That Emotion / One Kind Favor / Money Honey / How Sweet It Is. Released on CD in 1988 in the US (Fantasy, 7703).
KEYSTONE ENCORES, VOL. 2 (1988)
Live tracks: Hi-Heel Sneakers / Mystery Train // It’s Too Late (She’s Gone) / How Sweet It Is. Released on elpee and cassette in 1988 in the US (Fantasy, MPF/5MPF-4534).
ALMOST ACOUSTIC (1988)
Live tracks: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Deep Elam Blues / Blue Yodel #9 (Standing On The Corner) / Spike Driver Blues / I’ve Been All Around This World / I’m Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail / I’m Troubled / Oh, The Wind And The Rain / The Girl At The Crossroads Bar / Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie / Casey Jones / Diamond Joe / Gone Home / Ripple. Credited to Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and released on CD and cassette on December 6, 1988 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD/GDC-4005).
GARCIA/GRISMAN (1991)
The Thrill Is Gone / Grateful Dawg / Two Soldiers / Friend of The Devil / Russian Lullaby / Dawg’s Waltz / Walkin’ Boss / Rockin’ Chair / Arabia. Co-credited to David Grisman and released on CD on August 23, 1991 in the US (Acoustic Disc).
JERRY GARCIA BAND (1991)
Live tracks: The Way You Do The Things You Do / Waiting For A Miracle / Simple Twist of Fate / Get Out of My Life / My Sisters And Brothers / I Shall Be Released / Dear Prudence / Deal // Stop That Train / Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) / Evangeline / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Don’t Let Go / The Lucky Old Sun / Tangled Up In Blue. Released on 2LP on August 27, 1991 in the US (Arista, 18690); reached #97 on the US charts. Re-released in 2000 in Japan (BMG, 37148/9).
Deal (long edit)
b/w Deal (short edit), Deal (album version), Waiting For A Miracle. Released as a promotional CD single in 1991 in the US (Arista, ASCD-2343).
JERRY GARCIA RADIO SPECIAL (1991)
Released as a promotional elpee in 1991 in the US (Arista, ADP-2377).
NOT FOR KIDS ONLY (1993)
Jenny Jenkins / Freight Train / A Horse Named Bill / Three Men Went A-Hunting / When First Unto This Country / Arkansas Traveller / Hopalong Pete / Teddy Bears’ Picnic / There Ain’t No Bugs On Me / The Miller’s Will / Hot Corn, Cold Corn / A Shenandoah Lullaby. Co-credited to David Grisman and released on CD on October 20, 1993 in the US (Acoustic Disc).
A TALK WITH JERRY GARCIA (1996)
Meeting Joe / The Fun Finder / The Music Business / Solo Album Groove / Approach To Solo Recording / Guitar Playing / Being Repetitious / The Grateful Dead / Being Amazed / The Dream Lab / The ‘60s / Taking Chances, Falling Down / Psychedelics / Smoking Pot / His Singing / A Grateful Dead Hit Single? / Jerry’s Favorite Album / The Dead ‘Organization’ / The Dead In The Community / Jerry And Rock Scully Say Goodbye. Released on CD in 1996 in the US (Caroline, SON-60).
SHADY GROVE (1996)
Shady Grove / Stealin’ / Off To Sea Once More / The Sweet Sunny South / Louis Collins / Fair Ellender / Jackaroo / Casey Jones / Dreadful Wind And Rain / I Truly Understand / The Handsome Cabin Boy / Whiskey In The Jar / Down In The Valley / Hesitation Blues. Co-credited to David Grisman, originally recorded in the early 1990s and released on CD in 1996 in the US (Acoustic Disc).
HOW SWEET IT IS (1997)
Live tracks: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) / Tough Mama / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Someday Baby / Cats Under The Stars / Tears of Rage / Think / Gomorrah / Tore Up Over You / Like A Road. Originally recorded in 1990 and released on CD on April 15, 1997 in the US (Arista, ARI-14051); reached #81 on the US charts.
Tore Up Over You (1997)
Released as a promotional CD single in 1997 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD-4051).
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (FOR MEMBERS ONLY) (1998)
Knocking On Heaven’s Door / Not Fade Away / Don’t Let Go / Mission In The Rain / Tangled Up In Blue / I Shall Be Released / Gospel Medley / Dark Star. Released on CD on March 24, 1998 in the US (House of Blues/Platinum, 161364).
SIDE TRIPS, VOLUME ONE (1998)
Free Flight / Space Funk / All For Life / Venutian Blues. Released on CD in 1998 in the US (Grateful Dead, 4061).
SO WHAT (1998)
So What / Bag’s Groove / Milestones / 16/16 / So What / Bag’s Groove / Milestones / So What. Co-credited to David Grisman, originally recorded in the early 1990s and released on CD in 1998 in the US (Acoustic Disc).
THE PIZZA TAPES (2000)
Appetizer / Man of Constant Sorrow / Appetizer / Louis Collins / Shady Jam / Shady Grove / Always Late / Summertime / Appetizer / Long Black Veil / Rosalee McFall / Appetizer / Drifting Too Far From The Shore / Amazing Grace / Little Sadie / Knocking On Heaven’s Door / Space Jam / So What / Appetizer / House of The Rising Sun. Co-credit to David Grisman and Tony Rice, originally recorded in 1993 and released on CD on April 25, 2000 in the US (Acoustic Disc).
DON’T LET GO (2001)
Live tracks: Sugaree / They Love Each Other / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Sitting in Limbo / Mission In The Rain / Don’t Let Go // After Midnight / Strange Man / Tore Up Over You / I’ll Take A Melody / The Way You Do The Things You Do / My Sisters And Brothers / Lonesome And A Long Way From Home / Mighty High. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1976 and released on 2CD on January 23, 2001 in the US (Grateful Dead).
GRATEFUL DAWG (2001)
Intro / Grateful Dawg (live) / Wayfaring Stranger / Sweet Sunny South / Old And In The Way Intro / Pig In A Pen / Dawg’s Waltz / Sitting Here In Limbo / Off To Sea Once More (by Ewan MacColl) / Off To Sea Once More / Jenny Jenkins / Arabia / The Thrill Is Gone / Friend of The Devil / Grateful Dawg (studio). Soundtrack co-credited to David Grisman and released on CD on September 11, 2001 in the US (Grateful Dead, 14079).
SHINING STAR (2001)
Live tracks: Shining Star / He Ain’t Give You None / Second That Emotion / Money Honey / Struggling Man / Russian Lullaby / Everybody Needs Somebody to Love // Let’s Spend the Night Together / Mississippi Moon / Let It Rock / When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game / Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox / Positively 4th Street / The Maker / Midnight Moonlight. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded between 1989-1993 and released on 2CD on March 21, 2001 in the US (Grateful Dead, 14079).
ALL GOOD THINGS: THE STUDIO SESSIONS (2004)
Deal / Bird Song / Sugaree / Loser / Late For Supper / Spidergawd / Eep Hour / To Lay Me Down / An Odd Little Place / The Wheel / Sugaree (alternate take) / Loser (alternate take) / Late For Supper/Spidergawd/Eep Hour (alternate takes) / The Wheel (alternate take #1) / The Wheel (alternate take #2) / Study For ‘Eep Hour’ / Dealin’ From The Bottom (Studio Jam) / Study For ‘The Wheel’ // Let It Rock / When The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game / That’s What Love Will Do / Russian Lullaby / Turn On The Bright Lights / He Ain’t Give You None / What Goes Around / Let’s Spend The Night Together / Mississippi Moon / Midnight Town / That’s A Touch I Like / (I’m A) Road Runner / It’s Too Late / I’ll Forget You / Tragedy / Think / I Know It’s A Sin / Lonesome Town / Cardiac Arrest (Studio Jam) / Back Home In Indiana // Might As Well / Mission In The Rain / They Love Each Other / I’ll Take A Melody / It Must Have Been The Roses / Tore Up Over You / Catfish John / Comes a Time / Mystery Train (Studio Jam) / All By Myself (Studio Jam) / Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie / You Win Again / Orpheus // Rubin And Cherise / Love In The Afternoon / Palm Sunday / Cats Under The Stars / Rhapsody In Red / Rain / Down Home / Gomorrah / Magnificent Sanctuary Band / I’ll Be With Thee / The Way You Do The Things You Do / Mighty High / Don’t Let Go / Down Home (rehearsal version) / Palm Sunday (alternate take) // Run For The Roses / I Saw Her Standing There / Without Love / Midnight Getaway / Leave The Little Girl Alone / Valerie / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Fennario / Alabama Getaway / Tangled Up In Blue / Simple Twist of Fate / Dear Prudence / Valerie (alternate mix) // Deal (alternate take) / Let’s Spend The Night Together (alternate take) / Mississippi Moon (alternate take) / Lonesome Town (acoustic version) / Catfish John (alternate take) / I’ll Take A Melody (alternate take) / My Sisters And Brothers / Hully Gully/Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu (Studio Jam) / Streamlined And Cannonball (Studio Jam) / Iko Iko (Studio Jam) / Hey Bo Diddley/Hide Away (Studio Jam) / Accidentally Like A Martyr. Released on 6CD on April 20, 2004 in the US and UK (Rhino, R2-78063).
PURE JERRY: THEATRE 1839, SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 29 & 30, 1977 (2004)
Live tracks: Mystery Train / Russian Lullaby / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Stir It Up / Simple Twist of Fate / The Way You Do The Things You Do / Catfish John // Friend of The Devil / Don’t Let Go / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / They Love Each Other / I Second That Emotion / Let Me Roll It // The Harder They Come / Gomorrah / Tore Up Over You / Tangled Up In Blue / My Sisters And Brothers. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1977 and released on CD on June 1, 2004 in the US (Jerry Made).
AFTER MIDNIGHT: KEAN COLLEGE 2/28/80 (2004)
Live tracks: Sugaree / Catfish John / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Simple Twist of Fate // How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You / After Midnight / Eleanor Rigby / After Midnight (Reprise) // I’ll Take A Melody / Tore Up Over You / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / The Harder They Come / Tiger Rose / Promotory Rider / Mission In The Rain / Midnight Moonlight. Credited to The Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1980 and released on 3CD on September 28, 2004 in the US and UK (Rhino, R2-76536); reached #118 on the US charts. Some versions include a fourth bonus disc with five additional songs (“Dear Prudence,” “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” “Russian Lullaby,” “That’s Alright, Mama,” “Deal”).
PURE JERRY: LUNT-FONTANNE, NEW YORK CITY, OCTOBER 31, 1987 (2004)
Live tracks: I’ve Been All Around This World / I’m Troubled / Short Life of Trouble / Band Introduction / Blue Yodel #9 (Standing On The Corner) / Spike Driver Blues / Trouble In Mind / The Girl At The Crossroads Bar / Bright Morning Stars / Ripple / Goodnight Irene // How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) / They Love Each Other / When I Paint My Masterpiece / Dear Prudence / Run For The Roses / I Shall Be Released / My Sisters And Brothers / Midnight Moonlight / Crazy Love // Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Deep Elem Blues / Blue Yodel #9 (Standing On The Corner) / Ballad of Casey Jones / Two Soldiers / Band Introduction / Diamond Joe / Gone Home / Oh, Babe, It Ain’t No Lie / If I Lose / Ragged But Right // Werewolves of London / Cats Under The Stars / Stop That Train / Let It Rock / Gomorrah / The Harder They Come / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Deal / My Sisters And Brothers. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1987 and released on 4CD on November 2004 (Jerry Made).
PURE JERRY: LUNT-FONTANNE, NEW YORK CITY, THE BEST OF THE REST, OCTOBER 15-30, 1987 (2004)
Live tracks: I’ll Take A Melody / Forever Young / Think / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Simple Trwist of Fate / When I Paint My Masterpiece / Deal / All Along The Watchtower // Get Out of My Life, Woman / Like A Road Leading Home / Mission In The Rain / Mississippi Moon / Evangeline / That Lucky Old Sun / And It Stoned Me / Tangled Up In Blue // Rosa Lee McFall / Drifting With The Tide / Calling Your Bosses / I’m Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail / Drifting Too far From The Shore / I Ain’t Never / Band Introduction / It’s A Long, Long Way (To The Top of The World) / Ashes of Love / Poison Love / I’m Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1987 and released on 3CD in November 2004 in the US (Jerry Made).
PURE JERRY: KEYSTONE BERKELEY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1974 (2004)
Live tracks: Neighbor, Neighbor / Keepers / Sitting In Limbo / Favela / Tough Mama / La La // Someday Baby / Think / Roadrunner / The Harder They Come / I Second That Emotion / Going, Going, Gone // Soul Roach / Mystery Train / Wondering Why / People Make The World Go Round / Keystone Jam / It’s Too Late / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Credited to Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Band, originally recorded in 1974 and released on 3CD on December 28, 2004 in the US (Jerry Made).
PURE JERRY: MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION, SEPTEMBER 1 & 2, 1989 (2005)
Live tracks: How Sweet It is (To Be Loved By You) / Stop That Train / Get Out of My Life, Woman / Run For The Roses / Like A Road Leading Home / My Sisters And Brothers / Deal // The Harder They Come / Mission In The Rain / Band Introduction / Think / Mississippi Moon / Waiting For A Miracle / That Lucky Old Sun / Tangled Up In Blue // I’ll Take A Melody / They Love Each Other / Forever Young / That’s What Love Will Make You Do / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / And It Stoned Me / Midnight Moonlight // Cats Under The Stars / Waiting For A Miracle / Simple Twist of Fate / Evangeline / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Don’t Let Go. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band, originally recorded in 1989 and released on 4CD on March 25, 2005 in the US (Jerry Made).
LEGION OF MARY: THE JERRY GARCIA COLLECTION, VOL. 1 (2005)
Live tracks: Tough Mama / That’s A Touch I Like / I Second That Emotion / Since I Lost My Baby / Tore Up Over You / The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / Talkin’ ‘Bout You // I’ll Take A Melody / Let It Rock / Neighbor, Neighbor / Money Honey / Last Train From Poor Valley / Mystery Train / How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). Credited to Legion of Mary, originally recorded on 1974-1975 and released on 2CD on August 23, 2005 in the US and UK (Rhino, 74692).
LADDER TO THE STARS: GARCIA PLAYS DYLAN (2005)
It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry / Tough Mama / Positively 4th Street / Wicked Messenger / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Simple Twist of Fate / I Shall Be Released // When I Paint My Masterpiece / She Belongs To Me / Forever Young / Tangled Up In Blue / Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) / Visions of Johanna / Mighty Quinn / It’s All Over Now Baby Blue. Released on 2CD on October 25, 2005 in the UK (Rhino, 73263).
WELL-MATCHED: THE BEST OF MERL SAUNDERS & JERRY GARCIA (2006)
Mystery Train / Lonely Avenue / Merl’s Tune / Positively 4th Street / After Midnight / Welcome To The Basement / That’s Alright / Space / I Second That Emotion / The Harder They Come. Compilation released on CD on May 23, 2006 in the US (Fantasy, FCD-30019).
THE VERY BEST OF JERRY GARCIA (2006)
Deal / Bird Song / Sugaree / Loser / The Wheel / Let It Rock / Russian Lullaby / Might As Well / Mission In The Rain / I’ll Take A Melody / Rubin And Cherise / Cats Under The Stars / Rhapsody In Red / Run For The Roses / Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door / Without Love // Catfish John / Deep Elem Blues / Ripple / Positively 4th Street / The Harder They Come / Gomorrah / Dear Prudence / Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) / Evangeline / Deal. Compilation released on 2CD on September 265, 2006 in the US and UK (Rhino, R2-73391).
GARCIALIVE VOLUME ONE: 3/1/80 CAPITOL THEATRE (2013)
Live tracks: Sugaree / Catfish John / How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) / Simple Twist of Fate // Sitting In Limbo / That’s All Right / Deal / Mission In The Rain / That’s What Love Will Make You Do // Russian Lullaby / The Harder They Come / Tiger Rose / Promontory Rider / Midnight Moonlight / Dear Prudence. Credited to Jerry Garcia Band and released on 3CD on February 19, 2013 in the US (ATO, 88088281332).
