Stream ‘Bear’s Sonic Journals: Tim Buckley Live At The Carousel Ballroom’ 1968

The seventh release in The Owsley Stanley Foundation’s Bear’s Sonic Journals archival recording series features performances from famed singer-songwriter Tim Buckley. Merry-Go-Round at The Carousel Ballroom documents Buckley’s performances from the storied San Francisco venue on June 15 and 16, 1968.

Captured by the Grateful Dead’s legendary soundman Owsley “Bear” Stanley, Tim Buckley took the stage at The Carousel in the summer of 1968 with his jazz-rock group consisting of the innovative singer-songwriter on 12-string guitar, John Miller on bass, David Friedman on vibraphone and Carter C.C. Collins on percussion. The collection features two newly discovered songs “Blues, Love” and “The Lonely Life” alongside early renditions of Buckley classics including two takes on “Buzzin’ Fly.” The live compilation takes its name from Buckley’s cover of Fred Neil’s “Merry-Go-Round,” also a nod to The Carousel itself.

“This is the follow-up to Dream Letter,” Buckley scholar Pat Thomas said in a statement “Between the sonics and the songs, this is a major moment in Buckley land.”

“A great discovery!” Tim Buckley lyricist Larry Beckett added. “Even though tracks here appear elsewhere in studio albums or other concert recordings, they are not the same at all. They are reinvented. And that’s why every single [release] is worth listening to.”

The recordings were transferred and mastered by longtime Grateful Dead and Owsley collaborator Jeffrey Norman of Mockingbird Mastering. Head here for more info on the collection.

Stream Bear’s Sonic Journals: Merry-Go-Round At The Carousel Ballroom featuring Tim Buckley below:

Bear’s Sonic Journals: Merry-Go-Round At The Carousel Ballroom Tracklist:

June 15, 1968

1. Buzzin’ Fly — 6:54
2. I Don’t Need it to Rain> — 9:28
3. Blues, Love> — 10:42
4. The Father Song> — 2:30
5. The Lonely Life> — 1:09
6. Happy Time (digital only) — 3:20
7. Hi Lily, Hi Lo (digital only) — 4:17

June 16, 1968

8. Green Rocky Road — 6:46
9. Happy Time — 3:11
10. Wayfaring Stranger — 9:40
11. Buzzin’ Fly — 5:08
12. Strange Feelin’ Suite
13. Strange Feelin’> — 7:34
14. Love from Room 109 at the Islander>— 2:23
15. Sing a Song for You> — 2:32
16. Merry-Go-Round> Strange Feelin’ (reprise) — 10:58