Jerry Garcia - The Very Best of Jerry Garcia

Title: The Very Best of Jerry Garcia Artist: Jerry Garcia Release Date: 9/26/2006 Label: Rhino Records Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 081227339128 Genre: Rock Styles: Rock & Roll, Blues-Rock, Country-Rock, Roots Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Rock, Jam Bands Moods: Atmospheric, Earnest, Laid-Back/Mellow, Meandering, Passionate, Stylish, Circular, Organic, Freewheeling, Rollicking, Sprawling, Bittersweet, Gentle, Intimate, Warm, Yearning, Confident, Earthy, Wistful, Greasy, Searching Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 6 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Deal
2. Bird Song
3. Sugaree
4. Loser
5. The Wheel
6. Let It Rock
7. Russian Lullaby
8. Might as Well
9. Mission in the Rain
10. I'll Take a Melody
11. Ruben and Cherise
12. Cats Under the Stars
13. Rhapsody in Red
14. Run for the Roses
15. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
16. Without Love

1. Catfish John [Live, 1973]
2. Deep Elem Blues [Live, 1987 at NHK in Tokyo, Japan]
3. Ripple [Live, 1987 at NHK in Tokyo, Japan]
4. Positively 4th Street [Live, 1975]
5. The Harder They Come [Live, 1977]
6. Gomorrah [Live, 1990]
7. Dear Prudence [Live, 1979][#]
8. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) [Live, 1990]
9. Evangeline [Live, 1990]
10. Deal [Live, 1980]

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Rhino Records 73391

No other editions were found for this album.

Now this is how you're supposed to do a compilation -- especially by someone who isn't making music on this plane anymore. Rhino's double-disc Very Best of Jerry Garcia is arguably exactly that. It's true that there's a bunch of stuff missing here: there are no cuts from Hooteroll? with Howard Wales, or the early Merl Saunders/Garcia Live at Keystone stuff recorded for Fantasy, but it's OK. Fans will quibble about what was left off, but not about what's here. Beginning with tracks from the first Jerry Garcia record, of which there are five, there's also a pair from Garcia (Compliments) and three from Reflections. The rest of disc one is filled out by three cuts each from the various Cats Under the Stars and Run for the Roses. This is all good and well as far as it goes, but the rest of the story, the part that really matters, is told on disc two, which is compiled of live recordings. From various editions of the Jerry Garcia Band -- thank goodness their version of Bob Dylan's "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" is here, as are live versions of "Positively 4th Street," Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come," and "Deal" from the Way After Midnight album. There's the JGB's read of "Gomorrah " with Gloria Jones (Marc Bolan's surviving widow) on backing vocals . There's also a cut from Old & in the Way off their live set, That High Lonesome Sound, and both "Deep Elem Blues" and "Ripple" off the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band's set are here. Which leads up to the grand moment on the live disc: the reunion of the Keystone band with Garcia and Saunders, as well as John Kahn on bass, with newbies Gaylord Birch on drums, Ed Neumeister on trombone, and saxophonist Ron Stalling. They do a stunning rendition of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence," which was previously unissued -- officially at least. Clocking in at over eleven-and-a-half minutes, it is the centerpiece of disc two. This cut alone might be worth the purchase price because it is loose, inspired, and utterly beautiful, and completely suited to Garcia's voice. In all, this is a fine comp that rounds out the portrait of Garcia both as a studio solo artist and leading various live bands. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Amos Garrett Trombone Arthur Adams Guitar Betty Cantor Engineer, Mixing Betty Cantor-Jackson Engineer Bill Kreutzmann Drums, Producer, Original Recording Producer Billy Wolf Overdubs, Mixing Blair Jackson Compilation Producer, Liner Notes, Tape Research Bob Matthews Engineer, Mixing, Vocal Overdubs, Overdubs Bob Weir Vocals, Guitar Bobbye Hall Conga, Bells, Percussion, Shaker Dan Healy Engineer Dave Patrick Photography David Grisman Mandolin, Original Recording Producer, Vocals David Kemper Drums David Nelson Vocals, Guitar Donna Jean Godchaux Vocals, Vocals (Background) Dorothy Stefanski Editorial Supervision Ed Neumeister Trombone Gaylord Birch Drums Gloria Jones Vocals Herbert Greene Cover Photo, Photography Jackie LaBranch Vocals James Austin Compilation Producer James O'Toole Project Assistant Jean Krikorian Design, Art Direction Jerry Garcia Chimes, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Arranger, Guitar (Bass), Organ, Banjo, Vocals, Pedal Steel, Synthesizer, Bass, Mixing, Percussion, Paintings, Original Recording Producer, Guitar, Guitar (Classical), Guitar (Steel), Producer Jimmy Dale Warren Piano, Clavinet Jimmy Edwards Product Manager Joe Gastwirt Compilation Producer, Remastering Joel Tepp Clarinet John Cutler Original Recording Producer, Engineer, Producer, Mixing John Kahn Guitar, Bass (Acoustic), Keyboards, Vibraphone, Original Recording Producer, Bass, Clavinet, Arranger, Producer, Guitar (Bass), Synthesizer, Piano, Organ Johnny d'Fonseca Drums Jon Sievert Photography Julie Stafford Vocals Karen LeBlanc Project Assistant Keith Godchaux Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Piano, Tack Piano, Vocals Kenny Kosek Fiddle Larry Knechtel Fender Rhodes Liza Stires Vocals Melvin Seals Keyboards, Organ Merl Saunders Keyboards, Organ Michael Omartian Tack Piano, Piano Mickey Hart Drums, Percussion, ? Mike McGinn Mixing Nicky Hopkins Piano Owsley Stanley Engineer Ozzie Ahlers Keyboards Peter Mcquaid Compilation Producer Peter Rowan Vocals, Guitar Phil Lesh Guitar (Bass), Bass Reggie Collins Discographical Annotation Rev. Ron Stallings Saxophone Richard Aaron Photography Richard Greene & Beryl Marriott Violin Rob Zi Taylor Engineer Roger Neuman Arranger, Horn, Trumpet Ron Malo Engineer Ron Tutt Percussion, Drums, Tambourine Sandy Rothman Original Recording Producer, Producer, Mandolin, Vocals Steve Parish Original Recording Producer, Producer Tom Flye Mixing Vassar Clements Fiddle Victoria Babcock Engineer Willi Deenihan Engineer