Jerry Garcia and David Grisman turn in an exceptionally tranquil “Friend of the Devil” in the latest preview of the Bare Bones archival series. Out December 13th via Rounder Records, the three-volume collection hosts previously uncirculated recordings from the duo’s string of 1990s releases.
From Garcia’s descending acoustic guitar notes that open the track, this recording of “Friend of the Devil” exudes intimacy. There’s the familiarity between lifelong collaborators Garcia and Grisman—who began playing together in 1964 after meeting at a Bill Monroe concert—and the familiarity of both musicians with the song, which they recorded together for the Grateful Dead‘s 1970 masterpiece, American Beauty.
In stark contrast to the Grateful Dead’s massive stadium roar at the dawn of the ’90s, Garcia delivers the song in a delicate, raspy whisper. Meanwhile, Grisman’s mandolin deftly fills all the spaces between Garcia’s guitar and vocals for a rendition that is both Bare Bones and all that it needs to be.
The three-volume Bare Bones captures 51 duo recordings of Garcia and Grisman made at Dawg’s home studio. These songs would appear on the pair’s celebrated run of early 1990s releases Garcia/Grisman, Shady Grove, and Not For Kids Only in a much more refined state, but the new archival series presents them in their rawest forms. Volume one features master tracks that would run on the aforementioned albums, while the second hosts original recordings of songs that would become staples of the duo’s songbook including “Grateful Dawg”, “Dawg’s Waltz”, and “Arabia” along with duo versions of “Two Soldiers”, “Take Me”, and “Friend of the Devil”.
Finally, volume three of Bare Bones includes 16 alternate duo takes of songs from Garcia/Grisman, Not For Kids Only, Shady Grove, and Bare Bones volume two. As opposed to the commercial behemoth that the Grateful Dead had become by this point, Garcia and Grisman’s recording schedule was as relaxed as possible. The lifelong friends and collaborators experimented with multiple arrangements and recordings for the sheer enjoyment of it, knowing that only one version could make it onto the album. As Grisman writes in the closing liner notes “…these recordings can be heard from a more historical (or should I say hysterical) perspective.”
Stream the newly unearthed recording of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman performing “Friend of the Devil” below or on your preferred streaming platform and pre-order Bare Bones here. Rounder Records will release Bare Bones on 3CD and 2LP physical formats as well as across digital platforms.
Jerry Garcia, David Grisman — “Friend Of The Devil”