Jerry Garcia ‘GarciaLive Volume 15’ Features 1971 Concert With Merl Saunders

The last Jerry Garcia live archival release of 2020, GarciaLive Vol. 15: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, May 21st, 1971, is due out via Round Records on December 4. A rendition of David Crosby’s “The Wall Song” from the set has been premiered by Rolling Stone as a preview of GarciaLive Volume 15.

The band featured on the forthcoming release features Jerry Garcia on guitar, keyboardist Merl Saunders, saxophonist Martin Fierro and drummer Bill Vitt. GarciaLive Volume 15 was recorded at San Francisco’s Keystone Korner on May 21, 1971, a rare night bassist John Kahn did not perform with Garcia/Saunders.

Jerry and Merl started performing together regularly in 1970 and would continue to do so through 1974. Fierro stars on “The Wall Song,” a tune David Crosby and Graham Nash released on 1972’s Graham Nash/David Crosby LP backed by Garcia and his Grateful Dead band mates, drummer Bill Kreutzmann and bassist Phil Lesh. GarciaLive Volume 15 also features Jerry solo repertoire staples including The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and the Elvis Presley-popularized “That’s Alright, Mama” and “Mystery Train.” The set also contains a number of songs that would disappear from Jerry’s repertoire a few years later.

Stream “The Wall Song” from GarciaLive Vol. 15: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, May 21st, 1971 below:

GarciaLive Vol. 15: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, May 21st, 1971

Disc One/Set One

1. Man-Child
2. One Kind Favor
3. I Know It’s A Sin
4. I Was Made To Love Her
5. Keystone Korner Jam
6. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Disc Two/Set Two:

1. Save Mother Earth
2. That’s All Right
3. The Wall Song
4. Mystery Train