The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1: Legion of Mary [LIVE] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Jerry Garcia

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: June 28, 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0009CTURI
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,969 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Tough Mama (7/4/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

2. That's a Touch I Like (3/1/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

3. I Second That Emotion (3/1/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

4. Since I Lost My Baby (5/22/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

5. Tore Up Over You (5/22/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

6. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (3/1/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

7. Talkin' 'Bout You (7/5/75 Keystone, Berkeley CA)

Disc: 2

1. I'll Take a Melody (5/15/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

2. Let It Rock (2/27/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

3. Neighbor, Neighbor (2/27/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

4. Money Honey (2/27/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

5. Last Train From Poor Valley (2/27/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

6. Mystery Train (7/7/75 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA)

7. How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (12/14/74 Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Grateful Dead's revered and mercurial Jerry Garcia pursued an eclectic array of side projects throughout his life. Many were folk/bluegrass-oriented, but for a brief time a Garcia band incarnation known as Legion Of Mary conjured up an inspired rock and jazz vibe. Featuring Jerry on guitar/vocals, Merl Saunders on keyboards/vocals, John Kahn on bass, Martin Fierro on reeds, and former Elvis drummer Ron Tutt, the quintet played just over 60 now-historic shows from December 1974 through July 1975. Distinguished by hard grooves and that unique Garcia improvisational style, the unit disbanded in the wake of concurrent Dead activities such as the Blues For Allah sessions, but these never-before-released recordings capture their magic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Superior, September 12, 2005

By	Kenneth M. Goodman (Cleveland, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The important thing to realize about this Legion of Mary release
is the time it was recorded: 1974 & 1975. While I love lots
of Jerry Garcia Band material, most of it was made in the
1980's and 1990's. This Legion of Mary material was made when
Jerry was still in his Grateful Dead prime...and his solos show
that. There are no bad tracks on either CD...but my favorites
are the Dylan opener Tough Mama; I'll Take A Melody; Let It Rock...Tore Up...and MANY others. I even like the saxophone solos...and of course Merle Saunders on keyboard is great. Virtually every track has tremendous Jerry solos...and his voice is in good shape as well. This is gooooooood stuff.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a time when the playing was relaxed and sweet, August 27, 2005

By	Gregory Dodge (Kingston, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've had pretty good tapes of most of these shows, so I was wondering if it would be worth it for the sound upgrade. The answer is a resounding yes, some of my favorite Legion of Mary is now remastered. All songs are top notch. The organ is sweet, the guitar clear, the base and drums distinct. Jerry's voice is sweet and high, not hoarse, just like you old timer's remember it. Highly recommended for all. The bonus disc (from Pure Jerry) is also top notch for those that cannot get enough.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legion of Jerry, September 19, 2007

By	PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

My friend Larry had heard that Jerry Garcia had been playing in Berkeley outside of The Grateful Dead. To keep everything Low-Key the Band was called: "Legion of Jerry". It was right before Christmas 74, and since the "Farewell" Shows had just happened at Winterland in October and nobody knew if The Grateful Dead HAD a Future at this point, it did look like Jerry had moved-on, and now was Fronting a New Band.

It's now 2007, and I'm listening to this great "Legion of Mary" release. This version of The Jerry Garcia/Merl Saunders Band featured Jazz Great: Martin Fierro who had played with Sir Doulglas Sahm & The Quintet, back in the Sixties and went on to Form: "Zero" with Steve Kimock & Greg Anton, in The Eighties. Martin had Toured with The Dead as 1/2 of their horn section in September 1973 just as "Wake of the Flood" was Released. Things had not gone down so well for the Grateful Dead, Big Horn Band, as the fans weren't too Crazy about an R & B Flavored Dead. But Jerry wanted to Explore Jazz & R & B, so as of July 74, Martin was asked to join the Garcia/Saunders Band and "Legion of Mary" begins.

Tapes of this band traded in Dead-Circles back in the Eighties & Nineties, but they always were of Poor Quality and Never a Complete Show. Now that's Rhino has the Reigns, we are seeing more stuff pour outta The Vaults.
These two CD's are from Dec 74-July 75 and were recorded in Portland,Berkeley & San Francisco. This Band sounds just a little more Layed-Back than the Jerry/Merl Band of July 73 that gave us "Live at The Keystone", and that said, lot's of The Rock is gone, Jerry, had shifted gears here and Jazz has taken the place of Rock. Now the Band had Three Solo stars in Jerry, Merl & Martin, Tunes increased in Length and arrangements were Altered to leave spaces for the Reeds.

These Two CD's with 14 tracks and 160 minutes of Music represent a Fair Chunk of what "Legion" was all about. We get Dylan: "Tough Mama", The Band: "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" and Elvis: "Mystery Train". Some Folks have mentioned that they Don't like Martin's Playing & this ain't Jazz. Well maybe it Ain't Jazz, But, you can't Slam Martin's playing here as he ADDS to this Music. This is Jerry's Band and this is Jerrymusic, and it's Good & Rockin', Fun Stuff. You don't get to hear much stuff like this anymore. There are no Computers & Lip-Synch Pop Boys & Girls here just 5 Guys in a bar Playing! Just like in Chicago in the Forties, San Francisco in The Sixties, these Guys sometimes take Chances and Go Out There BUT, they are having FUN.

And Jerry? Right here, Mr. Garcia is in Peak Form. Listen to him Sing: "The Night They Drove ol' Dixie Down". I've heard him do this one Many times, and this is The Best! On: "Let It Rock", Jerry goes after Chuck Berry and takes his Lead as a Slow Smolder that Builds & Builds, Martin here has some good Moments as well. We get some Rare Tunes played: "Neighbor, Neighbor" & "Last Train From Poor Valley". Neighbor, is a Blues, Slow-Burn with Jerry and Martin keepin' it right in the groove. "Poor Valley" is a Stunner! I wonder why this is it's First appearance on record, You can Wonder what the Grateful Dead, COULD have done with this Gem...

These two CD's: "Legion of Mary" are Really Nice. The Powerhouse that The Grateful Dead, became in the late 70's after the Break was BECAUSE of what Jerry had Learned playing with Great Musicians such as these. This is True American Music, and we are Lucky to have it at Last!