Another Batch Of Amazing Previously Uncirculated Jerry Garcia Recordings Surface

Earlier this week we reported on a batch of incredible, new-to-circulation Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead recordings that popped up out of nowhere on torrent site bt.etree.org. Since our original post, additional Garcia/Saunders and Grateful Dead soundboards have been posted for our listening enjoyment. Between the recordings released on Monday and those unveiled yesterday, there’s apparently nine “new” Grateful Dead Betty Boards and almost a dozen Garcia/Saunders recordings.

Four Garcia/Saunders soundboards that didn’t circulate were shared on Tuesday as well as three Grateful Dead recordings, which are big upgrades over what was previously available. Let’s start with the Jerry Garcia/Merl Saunders tapes. Up first is a portion of the pair’s show with John Kahn and Bitt Vit from Keystone in Berkeley on October 12, 1973. A recording of this show has never circulated in any form. Included within are versions of “After Midnight,” “Someday Baby,” “My Funny Valentine” and more.

• Garcia/Saunders – October 12, 1973 – Berkeley

The next soundboard recording features Merl, Jerry, John Kahn, Martin Fierro and Bill Kreutzmann at Keystone on January 17, 1974. This portion of the second set includes “Finders Keepers,” “Think,” “The Harder They Come” and more.

• Garcia/Saunders – January 17, 1974 – Berkeley

How about a Betty Board??? Here we have a partial recording made by famed sound engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson of Garcia, Saunders, Kahn, Fierro and E.W. Wainwright from Keystone on March 9, 1974. The five-piece runs through “(I’m A) Road Runner,” “The Harder They Come,” “It Ain’t No Use” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got).”

• Garcia/Saunders – March 9, 1974 – Berkeley

Finally on the Garcia/Saunders front comes the first-ever recording of the group’s opening set at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco to circulate in any form. This soundboard sees Merl and Jerry pair up with Kahn, Fierro and drummer Jim Nelson on “Think,” “Valdez In The Country,” “Freedom Jazz Dance” and more. Listen to “Think”:

• Garcia/Saunders – October 6, 1974 – Berkeley

Now, let’s move on to three Grateful Dead soundboards that came into circulation yesterday, which according to Grateful Seconds are Betty Boards. Up first comes the band’s performance at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco from April 5, 1969. Listen to “Doin’ That Rag” for a taste of the crispy quality:

• Grateful Dead – April 5, 1969 – San Francisco

We now move to the year 1972 for the most complete soundboard recording of the Grateful Dead’s December 15th performance at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California to enter circulation. The Dead roll through many classics from the era as well as standout “Dark Star” > “Morning Dew” segment.

• Grateful Dead – December 15, 1972 – Long Beach, CA

And last, but certainly not least, is the most complete soundboard recording of the Grateful Dead’s March 15, 1973 performance at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. A substantial portion of the show never circulated in soundboard quality due to the condition of the master reels. Thanks to all involved in the “major surgery” needed to get this out there.

• Grateful Dead – March 15, 1973 – Uniondale, NY

Thanks to all involved with getting these treats into fans’ hands.