Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders - "The Harder They Come" - GarciaLive Volume 18

Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders perform "The Harder They Come" as featured on GarciaLive Volume 18: November 2nd, 1974 Keystone Berkeley.
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GarciaLive Volume 18: November 2nd, 1974 Keystone Berkeley presents the complete and previously uncirculated two-set Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders performance originally recorded to 1/4” analog reels by Betty Cantor Jackson.
Is there a more iconic venue for Garcia/Saunders than the Keystone Berkeley? The Bay Area haunt was the setting for the performances contained on the legendary Live at the Keystone releases and yielded at least a half-dozen other celebrated official live releases. Be it the quaint, unassuming setting or the proximity to home, magic never seemed to be in short supply - and this evening in November was no different. In addition to the ever-present John Kahn on bass, the rhythm section this evening was bolstered by one of the most in demand session drummers of his day, the great Paul Humphrey whose credits range from Marvin Gaye and Joe Cocker to the Lawrence Welk Show. Future Legion of Mary bandmate Martin Fierro rounds out the ensemble. The performance itself is nothing short of exceptional, particularly the monstrous first set combination of “Valdez in the Country,” "The Harder They Come,” and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” which destroy any notion of genre as Garcia, Saunders & co. somehow fuse seemingly disparate originals by Donny Hathaway, Jimmy Cliff and Randy Newman into a sound all their own. After a brief set-break, the group returns for a super-charged second set highlighted by extended versions of “Freedom Jazz Dance” and Merl’s own “Wondering Why” before closing the evening with a fiery “Mystery Train.” Always ones to stretch the bounds, you get the sense they would’ve gone all night if not for the venue’s pesky 2am curfew.

[@allenerdman8529]

The amount of music that survived before a digital era with Jerry or the dead is astonishing so grateful for decades of music nd jams to dig through simply beautiful the harder they come the longer they are remembered haha twirl on and always be open to listening to something new

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

quite true. and this digital remaster is crisp and sharp.

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

Merl Saunders was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ. The Dead Family lost another one of its finest when keyboardist extraordinaire Merl Saunders died on Friday, October 24, 2008, at the age of 74. Born: February 14, 1934, San Mateo, CA

[@Nathan-gn3ls]

I'll tell about this guy up in the sky, his name is Jerry and he gave the world all the love he had to give and still is. Be good to see him when we get there, inshallah. ❤️(~}; )💙

[@DouglasF68]

Thank you Betty, Jerry et. ALL Heads everywhere❤🎉😊

[@MSAPtube]

I wish a Merry Garsaunders to you all.

[@davidtoddmickens5558]

It's amazing how magnificent since of sound , or a frequency ,then capture it ...for us to listen to what we missed live....OK u win :: but thank U Soo VERY much

[@amangogna68]

Great music and amazing singer and band !

[@DoctorHayduke]

Strange tempo And that horn is kinda nuts too. 👍 I love these mid 70s shows at the Keystone.

[@lukefish7562]

Well alright! Always down for a listen ⚡️💀🥀😀

[@deadmetal8692]

Lovin' It! Thanks fellas for leaving us with a litany of stellar music.

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Who's in the 'LEGION of MARY ', a pikin gitar playa, some whackamole drummer, a flute player, some guy on keyboard, who's playin' bass? 😂😂😂😂 juskiddin...CLASSIC.

[@Ck-zk3we]

Another one?

[@juancaminante8078]

This is a crummy cover. Absolute garbage. Why would they publish this? Willie Nelson does a cool version, but you can’t touch Jimmy Cliff.

[@charlesurbane7421]

If you don't like this check out My Funny Valentine from the original Live at Keystone.

[@charlesurbane7421]

Volume II

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Luvya..Liv long & prosper youngling.😅

[@stv111play]

JimmyCliff smiling

[@hanzboobinn-schnippinn9278]

The herky-jerky drumming is whack ~ that dude is lost at sea

[@juancaminante8078]

This entire version is half-assed and weak.

[@hanskung3278]

@@juancaminante8078 I like it.