Jerry Garcia Band gets biblical on gospel favorite “My Sisters and Brothers” in the final preview of the upcoming GarciaLive Volume 21 archival release. Out on Friday via Garcia Family Provisions, the live album captures most of the Grateful Dead guitarist’s solo show at Keystone in Berkeley, CA on February 13th, 1976 with filler from two nights later at Sophie’s in Palo Alto, including the “My Sisters and Brothers”.
Last month, Garcia Family Provisions released a sedated “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” from 2/13/76 at Keystone that heard JGB in a relaxed state. And why wouldn’t Jerry be relaxed? He was at his mid-’70s home away from home, the Grateful Dead were still on break for a few more months, and he was trotting out a newly revamped JGB lineup with Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux. The recording of “My Sisters and Brothers” from Sophie’s two nights later certainly reinforces that easygoing aura, though bumps up the BPMs a bit as it moves on at a steady pace.
Jerry’s serene vocals immediately emerge as a highlight of this Charles Johnson cover, supported by the crystalline delicacy of Keith’s sparing grand piano contributions. The instrumental performances are subdued, and this rendition becomes all about the harmonies as bassist John Kahn‘s deep baritone lays the bedrock for Jerry and Donna to coalesce for the chorus. This Jerry Garcia Band lineup was one of the guitarist’s favorite on account of its strong harmonies, reportedly saying “This is what I want to hear.”
Celebrated Grateful Dead audio engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson recorded nearly the entire two-set 2/13/76 show on 1/4″ analog reels. GarciaLive Volume 21 is missing the show’s opening “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”, so archivists tacked a version of the Marvin Gaye classic from 2/15/76 onto the end of the album along with that night’s “My Sisters and Brothers” for good measure. While we don’t have the complete February 13th recording, we do have a few JGB milestones with the band’s debuts of The Rolling Stones‘ “Moonlight Mile”, J.J. Cale‘s “After Midnight”, and Ray Charles‘ “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”—taken from the Legion of Mary live repertoire.
Listen to Jerry Garcia Band perform “My Sisters and Brothers” at Sophie’s in Palo Alto on February 15th, 1976, available on GarciaLive Volume 21. Pre-order the album in digital and physical formats here.
Jerry Garcia Band — “My Sisters And Brothers” (Charles Johnson) — 2/15/24
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