Ween Re-Releases Heartfelt Jerry Garcia Tribute ‘So Long Jerry’

Several songs were written in tribute to Jerry Garcia after the Grateful Dead guitarist’s tragic death, but one of the most poignant was Ween's “So Long Jerry.” Today, the song is finally available on all major streaming platforms as the latest preview of 12 Golden Country Greats (Deluxe Edition).

Ween originally issued 12 Golden Country Greats in 1996. “So Long Jerry” was recorded for inclusion on the LP but didn’t make the final cut. The song penned by Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) and Gene Ween (Aaron Freeman) only saw daylight as the B-side to Ween’s 1996 maxi single “You Were the Fool”/”Piss Up a Rope.”

12 Golden Country Greats, which only contains 10 tracks despite its title, has been given the deluxe reissue treatment in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The 36-song 12 Golden Country Greats (Deluxe Edition) is set for release on July 31 via Rhino.

Ween’s forthcoming set includes the original album remastered, “12 Golden Demos” and “14 Golden Outtakes and Demos.” In addition to the fully-formed “So Long Jerry,” a demo of the song is also featured in the collection. The inclusion of the fully-produced “So Long Jerry” and “I Got No Darkside” gives 12 Golden Country Greats the 12 songs suggested by the album’s title.

Gene Ween sings lead on “So Long Jerry,” which was recorded a mere three months after Garcia’s death. While Ween never played the song live, Gener performed “So Long Jerry” several times, both solo and with his eponymous band. Freeman and Melchiondo were accompanied on the track and the rest of the songs recorded for 12 Golden Country Greats by “The Shit Creek Boys,” a group of ace Nashville session players the duo recruited to provide instrumentation on the album.

Stream Ween’s “So Long Jerry” below: