Four CD set. Before The Dead brings together a rare collection of the earliest known performances by Jerry Garcia. From an informal and intimate 1961 performance of simple folk songs at a birthday party with future songwriting partner Robert Hunter to more polished coffeehouse gigs with old-timey and bluegrass bands through 1964, this collection showcases Garcia's deep study of the folk music tradition and it's influence on his musical journey leading to the formation of the Grateful Dead. You'll hear those birthday-party and coffeehouse performances plus KZSU radio Studio A recordings ("Pig in a Pen," "Cripple Creek," "Sugar Baby"), performances by the Wildwood Boys ("The Little Sparrow," "We Shall Not Be Moved"), Jerry & Sara ("Deep Elem Blues," "Long Black Veil"), Black Mountain Boys ("Salt Creek," "Raw Hide," "True Life Blues," "Walkin' the Dog"), Asphalt Jungle Mountain Boys ("These Men of God," "Goodbye Old Pal") and more.

Track List

1. Santy Anno - 2:15
2. I Got a Home in That Rock - 1:46
3. Oh Mary Don't You Weep - 3:31
4. All My Trials - 4:01
5. I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago - 2:12
6. Blow the Candles Out - 2:02
7. Rake and a Rambling Boy - 1:31
8. Trouble in Mind - 3:10
9. Brown's Ferry Blues - 2:51
10. Jesse James - 4:13
11. Down in the Willow Garden - 1:48
12. Long Lonesome Road - 2:39
13. Railroad Bill - 3:17
14. The Wagoner's Lad - 3:00
15. Katie Cruel - 3:40
16. Cannonball Blues - 3:02
17. Little Birdie - 3:17
18. Sally Goodin - 2:06
19. Hold That Woodpile Down - 3:32
20. Legend of the Johnson Boys - 3:10
21. Shady Grove - 2:49
22. Sweet Sunny South - 3:13
23. Man of Constant Sorrow - 2:26
24. Band Introductions - 1:12
25. Roving Gambler - 3:46
26. Ground Speed - 1:29
27. Pig in a Pen - 2:15
28. Standing in the Need of Prayer - 2:09
29. Flint Hill Special - 2:00
30. Nine Pound Hammer - 2:42
31. Handsome Molly - 2:19
32. Clinch Mountain Backstep - 1:18
33. Think of What You've Done - 2:41
34. Cripple Creek - 1:24
35. All the Good Times Have Past and Gone - 3:07
36. Billy Grimes the Rover - 2:42
37. Paddy on the Turnpike (Boys My Money's All Gone) - 1:38
38. Run Mountain - 4:11
39. Sugar Baby - 3:52
40. Sitting on Top of the World - 3:37
41. Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms - 3:25
42. Jerry's Breakdown - 2:08
43. Standing in the Need of Prayer - 2:39
44. Mule Skinner Blues - 3:23
45. Saturday Night Shuffle - 2:05
46. Pike County Breakdown - 1:44
47. The Little Sparrow - 3:25
48. We Shall Not Be Moved - 2:41
49. Deep Elem Blues - 3:17
50. Will the Weaver - 3:14
51. I Truly Understand - 3:20
52. Long Black Veil - 4:28
53. The Man That Wrote That Home Sweet Home Never Was a Married Man - 3:38
54. Foggy Mountain Top - 3:13
55. Barefoot Nellie - 3:41
56. She's More to Be Pitied - 3:26
57. Noah's Breakdown - 2:18
58. Who Will Sing for Me? - 2:07
59. Salt Creek - 2:19
60. Monroe's Hornpipe (Jody's Hornpipe) - 1:51
61. Rosa Lee McFall - 2:31
62. John Hardy/Closing Theme - 1:26
63. Katie Kline - 3:17
64. Walkin' the Dog - 2:10
65. Paddy on the Turnpike (Boys My Money's All Gone) - 3:12
66. Love and Wealth - 2:19
67. Sourwood Mountain - 0:45
68. If I Lose - 2:16
69. Homestead on the Farm (I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home) - 2:20
70. Stoney Creek - 2:24
71. Salty Dog Blues - 2:28
72. Love Please Come Home - 2:21
73. Make Me a Pallet on the Floor - 2:27
74. Darlin' Allalee - 2:08
75. In the Pines - 3:25
76. Raw Hide - 2:32
77. Black Mountain Rag - 2:12
78. True Life Blues - 2:21
79. Medley: Devil's Dream-Sailor's Hornpipe - 1:45
80. Drink Up and Go Home - 3:05
81. These Men of God - 3:14
82. Roll on Buddy - 2:11
83. Goodbye Old Pal - 1:50
84. Back Up and Push - 1:10