Songs of the Grateful Dead was released on 5 October 2010 by Woodstock Records (WR33). It is credited to Jesse McReynolds & Friends with David Nelson and Stu Allen. McReynolds, the mandolin-playing half of Jim & Jesse, is known for his crosspicking and split-string mandolin styles. The album has a back-story that goes back to 1964. That year the young Jerry Garcia and his friend Sandy Rothman set off on a cross-country bluegrass trip, and one of their goals was to find Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys. They heard the brothers play but were too shy to meet them afterwards. According to Jambands.com’s review, McReynolds did not know the Dead’s music, and it was Rothman and McReynolds’s wife, Joy, who talked him into the project.
Nine of the thirteen tracks are Garcia–Hunter songs, among them “Black Muddy River,” “Ripple,” “Bird Song,” “Loser,” “Stella Blue” and “Alabama Getaway.” “Franklin’s Tower” adds Bill Kreutzmann to the credits, “Fire on the Mountain” is by Hunter and Mickey Hart, and “Deep Elem Blues” is traditional. The last track, “Day by Day,” is new, with words by Robert Hunter and music by McReynolds.
McReynolds sings lead on most of the album and plays mandolin throughout. David Nelson of the New Riders of the Purple Sage plays electric guitar and sings lead on “Ripple” and “The Wheel.” Stu Allen of the Jerry Garcia tribute group JGB plays acoustic and electric guitar and sings “Deal.” Steve Thomas plays fiddle, guitar and keyboards, Randy Brown bass and Shawn Apple drums. Tommy White adds steel guitar to “Standing on the Moon” and “Stella Blue.” On “Deep Elem Blues,” Rothman plays banjo and Buck White piano. McReynolds’s grandson Garrett sings harmony on several tracks. On “Day by Day” he is joined by his sister Amanda, with a different band: Tony Wray on acoustic guitar, David Ferguson on bass and Pat McErney on drums.
Tracklist
- 1 Black Muddy River 5:38
- 2 Ripple 4:30
- 3 The Wheel 5:55
- 4 Bird Song 8:07
- 5 Franklin's Tower 5:30
- 6 Standing On The Moon 5:25
- 7 Loser 5:26
- 8 Fire on the Mountain alt version 2:03
- 9 Stella Blue 6:42
- 10 Deep Elem Blues alt version 5:58
- 11 Deal 5:09
- 12 Alabama Getaway 4:17
- 13 Day By Day 4:40
