Bears Sonic Journals: Dawn Of The New Riders Of The Purple Sage (5CD)

What a treat for NRPS fans. Officially released live sets from the formative period of the band when Jerry Garcia was playing with them on pedal steel. Over five hours of music from '69-'70 from four venues across nine nights. Included are a number of tracks never officially released, some with Bob Weir, and a couple with Will Scarlett-harmonica, who also played on the first Hot Tuna acoustic live album. The band is Jerry Garcia-pedal steel guitar/vocals, John "Marmaduke" Dawson-vocals/guitar, David Nelson-lead guitar/vocals, Dave Torbert or Bob Mathews-bass, and Mickey Hart-drums. Five "stars" for having Garcia and Hart in the band adds a bit of nostalgia. But in the end its the music that matters and for NRPS fans, this box set delivers.

- Disc 1 -

1 Six Days on the Road

2 Henry

3 What's Made Milwaukee Famous

4 I've Got a Tiger By the Tail

5 Don't Take Any Chances

6 Connection

7 Delilah

8 A-11

9 Garden of Eden

10 Hello Trouble

11 Last Lonely Eagle

12 Whatcha Gonna Do

- Disc 2 -

1 Zebra Dun

2 Jerry Explains His Instrument

3 Kaw-Liga

4 Sweet Lovin' One

5 Fair Chance to Know

6 Long Black Limousine

7 All I Ever Wanted

8 Truck Drivin' Man

9 The Lady Came from Baltimore

10 Games People Play

11 Introducing the "Murdering Punks"

12 To Have the Hurting End

13 I Am Your Man

14 Henry

- Disc 3 -

1 Six Days on the Road

2 I Am Your Man

3 Last Lonely Eagle

4 Whatcha Gonna Do

5 Introducing the Famous Bobby Ace

6 Mama Tried

7 Cathy's Clown

8 Old Old House

9 Me & My Uncle

10 Seasons of My Heart

11 Slewfoot

12 To Have the Hurting End

13 The Games People Play

14 Superman

15 Saw Mill

- Disc 4 -

1 Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line

2 Fair Chance to Know

3 Mama Tried

4 I Still Miss Someone

5 Crossover

6 The Weight

7 Garden of Eden

8 Long Black Veil

9 Death and Destruction

- Disc 5 -

1 Henry

2 Fair Chance to Know

3 The Race Is on

4 Mama Tried

5 Honky Tonk Women

6 I Don't Know You

7 Superman

8 If You Hear Me When I'm Leaving

9 Louisiana Lady

10 The Weight

11 Portland Woman