Rhapsody in Red: Garcia Essentials (A Valentine’s Day Playlist)

Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg

Music has long been an expression of love, used by artists to communicate the vast range of emotions tied to an experience, with the hope of generating a relatable collection of songs that listeners can tap into and live alongside. For fans of the Jerry Garcia archive, his love songs and ballads have defined such special moments, creating a sonic compliment that can be revisited with each play.

In the same vein, Relix presents Rhapsody in Red: Garcia Essentials, a Valentine’s Day playlist comprised of Garcia originals, collaborations, covers, and downright celebrations of love in all its forms. A total of 38 songs, culled from live sets like Keystone Companions, Pure Jerry, After Midnight: Kean College, solo albums Reflections, Garcia Complements and Grateful Dead favorites, Shakedown Street, Wake of the Flood, Reckoning, in addition to other specialty projects. 

Rhapsody in Red: Garcia Essentials ranges in pulls from “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” “Let’s Spend The Night Together” to live cuts from the Garcia Band archive, “How Sweet It Is,” “Don’t Let Go” as well as Merl Saunders contributions on the 18-minute “My Funny Valentine,” “I Second That Emotion” and “I Was Made to Love Her,” on the keyboardist’s birthday no less. If not a plain and simple love, the extension of ballads allows for the retelling of tales steeped in the richness of a sentimental story, “Ruben and Cherise,” “If I Had The World to Give” and “Midnight Moonlight,” et al. 

As a whole, ballads, love songs, and all, the playlist is meant to enhance your holiday just like Garcia’s songs have enriched those special moments in life. Even if it is just a plain serenade, find out what love will make you do.