Album Review: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders - GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders

GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

*** out of *****

The newest release from the GarciaLive series is from September 25th, 1971 at the small Lion's Share club in San Anselmo, California. Both the early and late shows (minus the last tune of the night) are presented, showcasing an era when Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders were very connected musically. 

Playing with Garcia and Saunders are Tom Fogerty on guitar and vocals, John Kahn on bass, and Bill Kreutzmann on drums. The recording clearly uses Fogerty in the left channel and Garcia on the right, as the keys/bass/drums stick in the middle. Fogerty starts a bit too loud in the mix, but as things progress levels become more democratic. 

This is a unique lineup and while Kahn and Kreutzmann are main stays with Garcia, the biggest outlier is Fogerty who had just left his main act earlier in 1971, Creedence Clearwater Revival. While that band can "choogle" with the best of the them, they aren't on the freeform jam level of Garcia and company and that shows multiple times during the show. 

Things begin with a half-informed introduction, before Saunders "Save Mother Earth" begins slow. You can tell the group hasn't played together a ton as they start lethargic, feeling each other out but as the song progresses things get grooving and just a touch spacey to end. One of the biggest surprises is the spin through "Imagine" which had literally been released just a few days before this show as a single. The instrumental cover is far from a note for note cover, but the fact that the band even attempted this shows how powerful the songs initial release had been.

Perhaps the best the full band sounds is on the Blind Lemon Jefferson blues standard "One Kind Favor". Fogerty's rhythm playing fits perfectly as Garcia's first vocals are warm, it is clear the more direct blues rock fits with Fogerty better than the more stretched out experimental cuts here. 

One of those is the cover of "I Was Made to Love Her" which Fogerty dips out of completely as Garcia and Saunders get after it, improving the sound as Tom's buzzing guitar leaves the scene. He returns and takes up lead vocals for the Jimmy Reed cover "Baby What You Want me To Do?". The early show ends with a spin through "Biloxi" which is OK, ending an interesting, if not a must hear, set. 

Things seem to click a bit better in the second show as the sound levels are more even for everyone and Fogerty works well with the band on the bluesy "Hi-Heel Sneakers". The best jamming arrives next as "Man-Child" > "Summertime" find Fogerty pulling back playing very little while Kahn's bass is more vibrant working with Billy's drums behind Jerry and Merl. The end of "Man-Child" feels very Grateful Dead like before dripping into "Summertime" which is a dynamite collection of fluid jamming, moving with ease as Garcia's riffs are everywhere. 

Fogerty rejoins for the final three songs of the night. The blues/soul cover of "That's The Touch I Like" is an easy going workout that is straight ahead while Fogerty comfortably takes lead vocals again for "Annie Had a Baby" which segues perfectly into "W-P-L-J". The finale finds Jerry ripping strong solos to close as Khans bass sounds excellent as well, closing the night on a solid note. 

Far from a must own show, GarciaLive Volume 22 is more of cool curiosity as Garcia's solo sound would continue to evolve and take multiple forms throughout the 70's. September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share was just one step along the way. 

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