Owsley “Bear” Stanley’s Final Live Recordings Featuring Members of the Grateful Dead Get Release Date

On February 23, the Owsley “Bear” Stanley Foundation will drop the 10th chapter of Bear’s Sonic Journals: Sing Out! The impending release captures the longtime Grateful Dead soundman’s final recording of the group from April 25, 1981, at the Berkeley Community Theatre in Berkeley, Calif.

The concert lineup features Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia and Bobby Weir, backbeat Bill Kreautzmann and Mickey Hart, and standup bassist John Kahn, who filled in for Phil Lesh. Referred to as a “mini Woodstock” by counter-culture enthusiasts, Wavy Gravy, the lineup also featured Country Joe McDonald, Rosalie Sorrels, Kate Wolf, and other Bay Area favorites. 

The impending collection delivers 36 songs presented over three CDs, along with a 50-page booklet featuring essays by Grateful Dead scholars Nicholas G. Meriwether and Jesse Jarnow. Original artwork by Susan Archie is also included, as well as previously unreleased photographs from the 1981 spring concert. 

Bear’s history with the Grateful Dead spans an extensive history of the band’s live performing careers. In addition to the jam mainstays, Bear’s timeline as a sound engineer extends to cover more than 1,300 shows, spanning over 80 acts, like Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Miles Davis, and other celebrated groups.

Prior to releasing the 10th installment of Bear’s Sonic Journey: Sing Out!, the legacy project focused its efforts on unearthing live masterpieces from Johnny Cash, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Chieftains, Doc and Merle Watson, The Allman Brothers, Commander Cody and more, for added information and to purchase previously released sets, visit owsleystanleyfoundation.org. 

Pre-sale and additional information are expected in the near future.