Round Records will issue an extensive box set of Jerry Garcia’s earliest known performances on May 11. A pair of singles from the five-LP limited edition collection and a four-CD Before The Dead box set featuring Garcia with his pre-Grateful Dead groups the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers and the Black Mountain Boys are now available to stream.

Before The Dead begins with recordings from 1961 and continues with selections from subsequent years through the summer of 1964. Garcia can be heard alongside Robert Hunter, Marshall Leicester, Sara Ruppenthal Katz (Garcia’s first wife), David Nelson, Norm Van Maastricht, Sandy Rothman and Geoff Levin in various configurations including as a member of the bands Hart Valley Drifters, Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys and the aforementioned Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers and Black Mountain Boys.

Documentarian Brian Miksis worked with Grateful Dead publicist and author Dennis McNally to produce and curate Before The Dead. The box set features Miksis’ extensive liner notes as part of a 32-page book included in the collection that also presents track-by-track essays, listening notes, other essays, rare photos and memorabilia.

Stream Garcia with the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers performing “Man of Constant Sorrow” on June 11, 1962 at Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Peninsula Jewish Community Center in San Carlos, California here:


Listen to Garcia and the Black Mountain Boys on “Who Will Sing For Me?” in the fall of 1963 at the Top of the Tangent in Palo Alto, California

Before The Dead Tracklist

SIDE ONE:

Bob and Jerry

May 26, 1961

Brigid Meier’s Sixteenth Birthday Party

Menlo Park, California

Santy Anno I Got A Home In That Rock Oh, Mary Don’t You Weep All My Trials I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago Blow The Candles Out Rake And A Rambling Boy Trouble In Mind

SIDE TWO:

Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester, and Robert Hunter

July 1961

Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall

San Carlos, California

Brown’s Ferry Blues Jesse James Jerry Garcia and Unknown Musician

Summer or Fall 1961

Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Carlos Book Stall

San Carlos, California Down In The Willow Garden Long Lonesome Road Railroad Bill The Wagoner’s Lad Katie Cruel


SIDE THREE:

Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers

June 11, 1962

Boar’s Head Coffeehouse, Peninsula Jewish Community Center

San Carlos, California

Cannonball Blues Little Birdie Sally Goodin Hold That Woodpile Down Legend Of The Johnson Boys Shady Grove Sweet Sunny South Man Of Constant Sorrow

SIDE FOUR & FIVE

Hart Valley Drifters

Fall 1962

KZSU Radio Studio A, Stanford University

Stanford, California

Band Introductions Roving Gambler Ground Speed Pig In A Pen Standing In The Need Of Prayer Flint Hill Special Nine Pound Hammer Handsome Molly Clinch Mountain Backstep

Think Of What You’ve Done Cripple Creek All The Good Times Have Past And Gone Billy Grimes, The Rover Paddy On The Turnpike (Boys, My Money’s All Gone) Run Mountain Sugar Baby Sitting On Top Of The World


SIDE SIX:

The Wildwood Boys

February 23, 1963

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California

Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms Jerry’s Breakdown Standing In The Need Of Prayer Mule Skinner Blues Saturday Night Shuffle Pike County Breakdown The Little Sparrow We Shall Not Be Moved

SIDE SEVEN:

Jerry and Sara

May 4, 1963

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California

Deep Elem Blues Will The Weaver I Truly Understand Long Black Veil The Man That Wrote That Home Sweet Home Never Was A Married Man Foggy Mountain Top


SIDE EIGHT:

Black Mountain Boys

Fall 1963

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California

Barefoot Nellie She’s More To Be Pitied Noah’s Breakdown Who Will Sing For Me? Black Mountain Boys

January 10, 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California Salt Creek Monroe’s Hornpipe (Jody’s Hornpipe) Rosa Lee McFall John Hardy/Closing Theme Black Mountain Boys

March 6, 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California Katie Kline Walkin’ The Dog

SIDE NINE:

Black Mountain Boys

March 6, 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California

Paddy On The Turnpike (Boys, My Money’s All Gone) Love And Wealth Sourwood Mountain If I Lose Homestead On The Farm (I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home) Stoney Creek Salty Dog Blues Love Please Come Home Make Me A Pallet On The Floor Darlin’ Allalee


SIDE TEN:

Black Mountain Boys

March 6, 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California

In The Pines Raw Hide Black Mountain Rag True Life Blues Medley: Devil’s Dream–Sailor’s Hornpipe Black Mountain Boys

Spring 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California Drink Up And Go Home Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys

Summer 1964

Top of the Tangent

Palo Alto, California These Men Of God Roll On Buddy Goodbye Old Pal Back Up And Push

Note: The 4-CD Edition is comprised of the following – CD 1: Sides 1 & 2; CD 2: Sides 3, 4 & 5; CD 3: Sides 6, 7; and CD 4: Sides 8, 9 & 10