Before the Dead (Round Records, 2018) is a retrospective box set compiling Jerry Garcia's pre-Grateful Dead recordings from 1961 to 1964, presenting the young guitarist and banjoist in the acoustic folk, old-time, and bluegrass context that formed his musical foundation. Garcia plays banjo, guitar, and mandolin across the sessions, including his work with the Black Mountain Boys — the configuration featuring David Nelson on mandolin and guitar, Robert Hunter on string bass, and Eric Thompson on guitar. Hunter's bass-playing and vocalist role documents his pre-lyricist relationship with Garcia and the acoustic folk roots of the creative partnership that would come to define the Grateful Dead's songwriting. The four-disc retrospective was curated by Dennis McNally and Brian Miksis and released alongside a companion book of photographs and track commentary.
Tracklist
- 1 Santy Anno - Live 2:15
- 2 I Got a Home in That Rock - Live 1:46
- 3 Oh, Mary Don't You Weep - Live 3:31
- 4 All My Trials - Live 4:01
- 5 I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago - Live 2:12
- 6 Blow the Candles Out - Live 2:02
- 7 Rake and a Rambling Boy - Live 1:31
- 8 Trouble in Mind alt version 4:17
- 9 Brown’s Ferry Blues alt version 3:46
- 10 Jesse James alt version 2:39
- 11 Down in the Willow Garden alt version 4:46
- 12 Long Lonesome Road - Live 2:39
- 13 Railroad Bill alt version 2:18
- 14 The Wagoner's Lad - Live 3:00
- 15 Katie Cruel - Live 3:40
- 16 Cannonball Blues - Live 3:02
- 17 Little Birdie alt version 1:59
- 18 Sally Goodin alt version 3:19
- 19 Hold That Woodpile Down - Live 3:32
- 20 Legend of the Johnson Boys - Live 3:10
- 21 Shady Grove alt version 2:59
- 22 Sweet Sunny South alt version 3:27
- 23 I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow alt version 2:55
- 24 Band Introductions 1:12
- 25 Roving Gambler alt version 3:10
- 26 Ground Speed alt version 2:15
- 27 Pig in a Pen alt version 2:07
- 28 Standing in the Need of Prayer alt version 2:35
- 29 Flint Hill Special alt version 2:45
- 30 Nine Pound Hammer alt version 2:55
- 31 Handsome Molly alt version 2:03
- 32 Clinch Mountain Backstep alt version 3:27
- 33 Think of What You’ve Done alt version 2:08
- 34 Cripple Creek alt version 2:18
- 35 All the Good Times Have Past and Gone 3:07
- 36 Billy Grimes, the Rover 2:42
- 37 Paddy on the Turnpike alt version 2:26
- 38 Run Mountain 4:11
- 39 Red Rocking Chair alt version 2:04
- 40 Sitting on Top of the World alt version 2:39
- 41 Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms alt version 2:37
- 42 Jerry's Breakdown - Live 2:08
- 43 Standing in the Need of Prayer - Live 2:38
- 44 Muleskinner Blues alt version 4:23
- 45 Saturday Night Shuffle - Live 2:05
- 46 Pike County Breakdown alt version 2:36
- 47 Fair and Tender Ladies alt version 2:54
- 48 We Shall Not Be Moved - Live 2:42
- 49 Deep Elem Blues alt version 4:53
- 50 Will the Weaver - Live 3:13
- 51 Barefoot Nellie alt version 3:40
