Track List

Reflections review

Jerry Garcia’s solo album Reflections is superb from start to finish. One unique aspect about this CD is that it is half his solo band and half the Grateful Dead. With two different bands playing it is amazing that the flow of the songs run seamlessly together, especially since they are not sequenced separately. 

Most of the songs on this CD were regular rotations live, some with the Jerry Garcia Band and some with the Grateful Dead. The songs devoted to the Jerry Garcia band are among the strongest in his repertoire. They include one original Garcia and Hunter composition “Mission in the Rain,” and three covers, “Tore up Over You,” I'll Take a Melody," and “Catfish John.”  These four songs all include Nicky Hopkins on piano, best known for his work with the Rolling Stones. Garcia's interaction of the cover songs make them sound as if they are his own, and the chilling tone he adds to "Catfish John" is pure Jerry.

Hopkins and Garcia obviously had a strong musical connection. Does anyone else think that Hopkins interaction with Garcia brought the best out of him, especially with blues material? 

Without question, this ranks with the best Jerry Garcia or Grateful Dead studio releases. There are some jaw dropping live versions of some of these tracks on the live CD Don't Let Go that was recorded on May 26, 1976. by Barry Small © 
Grade  A 

Reflections unreleased album Outtakes

Reflection Bonus Material

Of the five bonus tracks the keyboard players vary. The first four songs feature the Jerry Garcia Band; two with Nicky Hopkins, and two with Larry Knechtel. The final track "Orpheus" is the Grateful Dead with Keith Godchaux on keyboards. 

The first four tracks all offer a nice complement to the album and are  familiar tracks that were never released before with this personnel. The rendition of "Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie" sounds nothing like the acoustic renditions he would perform in various settings including the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, both vocally and instrumentally.  The other three songs were concert rotations of the Jerry Garcia Band when Hopkins was a member, August through December 1975, and they perfectly fit Hopkins blues based style, though, Hopkins is not on this version of "Mystery Train." 

The final track, "Orpheus" features the Grateful Dead personnel, and the track did not jump out as special. The tone is much more Blues For Allah based than Jerry Garcia Band. My opinion is  the track would be better served for that albums bonus material which will likely occur in the future. Additional material featuring Hopkins would have been my preference and would have slightly improved the Reflections bonus material.  

1. Might as Well (Garcia / Hunter) - 3:52
2. Mission in the Rain (Garcia / Hunter) - 5:02
3. They Love Each Other (Garcia / Hunter) - 4:33
4. I'll Take a Melody (Toussaint) - 9:26
5. It Must Have Been the Roses (Hunter) - 5:26
6. Tore up over You (Ballard) - 4:28
7. Catfish John (McDill / Reynolds) - 6:56
8. Comes a Time (Garcia / Hunter) - 6:19

Bonus Material
Mystery Train (Studio Jam)
All By Myself (Studio Jam)
Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie
You Win Again
Orpheus

Initially, the bonus tracks were only available in The Garcia box set, All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions released in April 2004. In April 2005 they were sold as individual discs. 

Label - Round Records 
Re-mastered by Rhino 2004

Reflections Outtakes
I have a tape that has no date and this track list.  

Side A 
All by Myself 
Tough Mama 
Mystery Train 
Catfish John 
I'll Take a Melody 
Tore Up 
Road Runner 
Mission in the Rain // 

Side B 
Jam > 
Who's Loving You Tonight 
Let's Spend the Night Together > 
Edward (the Mad Shirt Grinder) 

From side two, "Who's Loving You Tonight" is a cool blues jam with some string bending by Garcia like I have never heard, sort of like a Roy Buchanan guitar attack. The Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders Band played this song at least four times.

The track "Edward" is an instrumental song that Garcia performed live regularly when Hopkins was a member of the Jerry Garcia Band between August and December 1975. Hopkins recorded this song on his 1973 album titled The Tin Man Was A Dreamer. That album features fellow Rolling Stones alumni Mick Taylor on four songs, and four songs that feature Beatles guitarists George Harrison. As an aside, Hopkins also played on a few Beatles albums including a few songs from their classic White Album. 

The Jerry Site has the following session listed:
His Master's Wheels Studio, San Francisco, CA

10-2-1975 ?
Mystery Train Jam >
Who's Loving You Tonight
Catfish John
I'll Take A Melody
Tore Up Over You
Tore Up Over You
I'll Take A Melody