THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Owsley Stanley Foundation has just released the landmark live recording Bear’s Sonic Journals: Sing Out!, Live at the Berkeley Community Theater, 4/25/1981. This exceptional collection showcases a unique assembly of Bay Area folk legends, encapsulating a night of acoustic marvels that has been described as a “mini-Woodstock.”
Featuring Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir of Grateful Dead, Country Joe McDonald, Kate Wolf, Rosalie Sorrels, and a special performance by the Dead’s Rhythm Devils, this album is not only a musical treasure but also a historic document. It stands as the last major show mixed and recorded by the iconic Grateful Dead sound engineer, Owsley “Bear” Stanley, marking the final live recording of any Grateful Dead members he ever produced.
Meticulously mixed and mastered, the album offers over 2.5 hours of music across 36 tracks, delivering the unparalleled live sound that Bear was famous for. The set includes a 48-page booklet enriches the experience, featuring essays by Grateful Dead scholars Nicholas G. Meriwether and Jesse Jarnow, original artwork by Grammy Award winner Susan Archie, new interviews, and never-before-seen photographs.
The album features rare acoustic renditions, such as Jerry and Bobby’s performance of Buddy Holly’s Oh Boy! and an acoustic Friend Of The Devil, marking its first set appearance since 1970. Still, this release is not just for Deadheads but for all who cherish the rich tapestry of American music and the legacy of those who’ve shaped its course.
The Owsley Stanley Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the vast collection of live recordings made by Stanley. Through these releases, the foundation aims to celebrate and sustain the musical heritage that Bear so meticulously captured during his lifetime.”
