Merl Saunders

Merl Saunders started his professional music career playing in show bands and jazz groups. He started to collaborate with Jerry Garcia in 1971 and their groups, the Garcia / Saunders Band and Legion Of Mary, were Garcia main away from the Grateful Dead vehicle from 1972 to 1975. Garcia also played with Merl's group Reconstruction in 1979. Merl Saunders was also a member of Dinosaurs, at times alongside Robert Hunter, and together with the Grateful Dead composed music for the New Twilight Zone TV series in 1985.

Merl Saunders: Singles

Five More / How's That), Merle Saunders, 1965, Fantasy 588

High Heel Sneakers / Breakin' Thru, Merl Saunders Trio, 1966, Fantasy 600

Soul Roach Part 1 / Soul Roach Part 2, Merl Saunders & His Orchestra, 1966, Early Bird

I Pity The Fool / Tighten Up, Merl Saunders, 1968, Galaxy 747

Soul Grooving / Up Up and Away, Merl Saunders, 1968, Galaxy 755

Julia / Five More, Merl Saunders, 1969, Fantasy 620

Mighty Whitey / Right On, Merl Saunders & Man Child Singers, 1969, Suemer-Tone 69

The Iron Horse / Little Bit Of Righteousness, Merl Saunders and Heavy Turbulence, 1971, Galaxy 776

Save Mother Earth Part 1 / Save Mother Earth Part 2, Merl Saunders, 1971, Fantasy 668

My Problems Got Problems / Welcome To The Basement, Merl Saunders, 1972, Fantasy 678

San Francisco After Dark / Come To Me, 1981, Summertone 214

Merl Saunders: Albums and compilations

Soul Grooving, Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band, 1968

Heavy Turbulence, Merl Saunders, 1972

Fire Up, Merl Saunders, 1973

Live At Keystone, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, December 1973

Merl Saunders, Merl Saunders, 1974

You Can Leave Your Hat On, Merl Saunders and Aunt Monk, 1976

Do I Move You, Merl Saunders, 1979

San Francisco After Dark, Merl Saunders, 1982

Meridien Dreams, Merl Saunders, 1988

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, 1988

Keystone Encores Vol. 1, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, April 1988

Keystone Encores Vol. 2, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, April 1988

Live At Keystone Vol. 1, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, 1988

Live At Keystone Vol. 2, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, 1988

Keystone Encores, Saunders/Garcia/Kahn/Vitt, 1988

Blues From The Rainforest, Merl Saunders, 1990

Save The Planet So We'll Have Someplace To Boogie, Merl Saunders, 1991

Fire Up Plus, Merl Saunders, 1992

It's In The Air, Merl Saunders, 1993

Still Having Fun, Merl Saunders, 1995

Keepers, Merl Saunders and Friends, 1997

Fiesta Amazonica, Merl Saunders, 1998

The Twilight Zone (Vol. 1): Original Soundtrack from the TV series, Grateful Dead/Merl Saunders, 1998

With His Funky Friends: Live, Merl Saunders, 1998

Struggling Man, Merl Saunders, 2000

Still Groovin', Merl Saunders, 2004

Pure Jerry: Keystone Berkeley, September 1, 1974, Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Band, 2004

The Jerry Garcia Collection, Vol. 1: Legion of Mary, Legion Of Mary, 2005

Friends Of Extinction, Dinosaurs, 2005

Well Matched: The Best Of Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia, 2006

Live On Tour, Merl Saunders & Melvin Seals, 2006

Keystone Companions: The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings, Merl Saunders / Jerry Garcia, 2012

Garcia Live: Volume Three: December 14-15, 1974, Northwest Tour, Legion Of Mary, 2013

Garcia Live: Volume Six: July 5, 1973, Lion's Share, Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders, 2016

Garcia Live: Volume Nine: August 11, 1974, Keystone, Berkeley, Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders, 2017

Garcia Live: Volume 12: January 23, 1973, The Boarding House, Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, 2019

Garcia Live: Volume 15: May 21st, 1971 Keystone Korner, Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, 2020

Garcia Live: Volume 18: Keystone Berkeley, November 2, 1974, Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders, 2022

Various artist compilations that include previously unreleased Merl Saunders music

Black Girl (Soundtrack), Various Artists, 1972

Fritz The Cat (Soundtrack), Various Artists, 1972

Heavy Traffic (Soundtrack), Various Artists, 1973

Keyboard, Various Artists, 1975

Fire On The Mountain - Reggae Celebrates The Grateful Dead - Volume 2, Various Artists, 1997

The Third Annual Gathering on the Mountain, Various Artists, 1999

Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 1, Various Artists, 2000

Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 2, Various Artists, 2000

Gathering On The Mountain: Live Part 3, Various Artists, 2000

Sharin' In The Groove, Various Artists, 2000

Into The Music: Jam Band, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 2001

Garcia Plays Dylan, Jerry Garcia Band / Grateful Dead, 2005

The Very Best Of Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia, 2006

Heads & Tails: Volume 1, Garcia-Saunders /Jerry Garcia Band, 2023

Various artist compilations that include previously released Merl Saunders music

Cool, Various Artists, 1988

The Cities Sampler, Vol. 3: Songs For The Earth, Various Artists, 1991

All Night Long They Play The Blues, Various Artists, 1992

Bad, Bad Whiskey (The Galaxy Masters), Various Artists, 1995

Jazz Collective, Various Artists, 1995

Sense Of Direction, Various Artists, 1995

Televisions Greatest Hits, Vol. 6 - Remote Control, Various Artists, 1996

Fritz The Cat/Heavy Traffic Soundtrack, Various Artists, 1996

Mo' Mod Jazz, Various Artists, 1998

Kinky Beats, Various Artists, 1999

Get Your Lie Straight, Various Artists, 2004

Welcome To The Basement, Various Artists, 2004

Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky, Various Artists, 2004

Pops In Jazz, Various Artists, 2004

Pops In Jazz, Vol. 2, Various Artists, 2004

Pure Jerry Sampler: Vols. 1 to 6, Jerry Garcia, 2005

Concord Music Group Sampler, Various Artists (Garcia/Saunders), 2005

28 Roses, DJ Mitsu The Beats, 2006 This album includes a remix of the Merl Saunders track Bahia.

Jerry Garcia: The Collected Artwork: Collectors Ed. CD, Various Jerry Garcia groups, 2007

The Manifesto Of Rare Groove, Vols 1-3, Various Artists, 2007

Jazz Dispensary: Soul Diesel II, Various Artists, 2018

Soho Scene '64-'65 Jazz Goes Mod, Various Artists, 2019

Soho Scene '66-'67 Jazz Goes Mod, Various Artists, 2020

Jazz Dispensary: Orange Sunset, Various Artists, 2020

Instrumentals Soul-Style Vol. 3: 1965-1966, Various Artists, 2021

Merl Saunders: Playing contributions to other releases

Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses), Grateful Dead, 1971

John White, John White, 1971

Danny Cox, Dany Cox, 1971

Goodbye Media Man Part I / Goodbye Media Man Part II, Tom Fogerty, 1971, Fantasy 661 Merl Saunders plays on the tracks of this single.

Tom Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, 1972

Single (Lady Of Fatima / Cast The First Stone), Tom Fogerty, June 1972, Fantasy F680

Steelyard Blues (Soundtrack), Various Artists, 1972

Single (Drive Again (Theme from Steelyard Blues) / My Bag (The Oysters)), Gravenites/Bloomfield et al, 1972

Give It Up, Bonnie Raitt, 1972

Warner/Reprise Display Case, Vol. 9, Various Artists (Bonnie Raitt), 1972

Europe '72, Grateful Dead, 1972

Excalibur, Tom Fogerty, 1972

Single (Faces Places People / Forty Years), Tom Fogerty, October 1972, Fantasy F691

Last Bolero In Berkeley, Cal Tjader, 1973

Betty Davis, Betty Davis, 1973

Moses, Jerry Hahn, 1973

Brenda Patterson, Brenda Patterson, 1973

Ooh So Good 'N' Blues, Taj Mahal, 1973

Warner/Reprise Display Case, Vol. 10, Various Artists (Gravenites/Bloomfield), 1973

America At Mid-Century, Various Artists, 1973

Garcia (Compliments of Garcia), Jerry Garcia, 1974

Single (Let It Rock / Midnight Town), Jerry Garcia, 1974

Mo' Roots, Taj Mahal, 1974

Looks Good To Me, Jim Post, 1974

They Say I'm Different, Betty Davis, 1974

Deep Ear, Various Artists, 1974 Includes a track from the Steelyard Blues soundtrack.

Is Having A Wonderful Time, Geoff Muldaur, 1975

Keith and Donna Godchaux, Keith and Donna Godchaux, 1975

Cesar 830, Cesar Ascarrunz, 1975

Tails Out, Wayne Berry, 1975

Single (See-Saw Affair / The Lady In My Life), Cesar's All-Stars, 1975

Sampler For Deadheads (#1 of 3), Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter, 1975

David Soul, David Soul, 1976

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been, Grateful Dead, 1977

Grateful Dead Sampler, Various Artists, 1978

Cats Under the Stars, Jerry Garcia Band, 1978

Arista AOR Sampler, Various Artists, 1978

Run For The Roses, Jerry Garcia Band, 1982

Amagamalin Street, Robert Hunter, 1984

The Relix Sampler, Various Artists, 1985

Nightfood, Brian Melvin, 1988

Underground (EP), Mike Lawson, 1989, Psychotronic Records

Stubborn Girl, C P Love, 1990

Free Flight, Palomino Duck, 1994

Life Is Like That, Jerry Miller, 1996

DAVA, DAVA And The Peace Army, 1997

Ticket To Fly, Mike Lawson, 1998

Tom Fogerty/Excalibur, Tom Fogerty, 1998

The Very Best Of Tom Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, 1999

King Of The Highway, Norton Buffalo and The Knockouts, 2000

New Train, Paul Pena, 2000

Hoy Yen Ass'n, Tommy Guerrero and Gadget, 2000

Furthur Most, Various Artists, 2000

The Best Of David Soul, David Soul, 2000

Anti Love: The Best Of Betty Davis, Betty Davis, 2000

The Golden Road (1965-1973), Grateful Dead, 2001

Gifts From The Dead, Gifts From The Dead, 2001

Remedy, Jim Weider Band, 2002

The Earth Will Swallow You (DVD), Widespread Panic, 2002

Rare, Five Point Plan, 2002

Rhythm & Roots of Larry Vann, Larry Vann, 2003

It's Always Been There, Gresham, 1990

The Very Best Of The Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead, 2003

All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions, Jerry Garcia / Jerry Garcia Band, 2004

The Essential Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal, 2005

The Very Best Of Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia, 2006

Oooh So Good 'N Blues / Recycling the Blues & Other Related Stuff, Taj Mahal, 2007

Looking Back: The Very Best of, David Soul, 2008

A Promise Kept, Jim McPherson, 2009

Oooh So Good 'N Blues / Mo' Roots, Taj Mahal, 2009

Recycling the Blues & Other Related Stuff / Oooh So Good 'N Blues, Taj Mahal, 2009

Don't Give Up on Us: The Very Best of, David Soul, 2010

Romancing The Bass, Tony Saunders, 2011

The Complete Columbia Albums Collection, Taj Mahal, 2013

The Best Of The Grateful Dead Live, 2018

The Story Of The Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead, 2020

Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition, Grateful Dead, 2021

Might As Well: A Round Records Retrospective, Jerry Garcia, 2023

Merl Saunders: Non-playing contributions to other albums

The Real Thing / Try My Love, Troy Dodds, 1966 Merl Saunders was the producer on the sessions that resulted in this single release.

Selah, Walter Hawkins, 1972 Merl Saunders produced this album.

Do Your Best, Walter Hawkins, 1977 Merl Saunders produced this album which is a reissue of the 1972 Selah LP.

Blue Light Rain, Jazz Is Dead, 1998 Merl Saunders is thanked in the liner notes of this album.

Jazz a La Soul, M.R.L.S., 2004 Includes a cover of a Merl Saunders composition.

Soul Groovin', Speedometer, 2009 Includes a cover of a Merl Saunders composition.

Invisible Angel, Nikki Matheson, 2011 Includes a cover of a Merl Saunders composition.

Electric Mix: Tasty Live & Studio Tune Treats, Phil McGee, 2011 Includes a cover of a Merl Saunders composition.

Merl Saunders compositions that have been released

A Afro Pearl Blue Am I Asking Too Much Aunt Monk Ayahuasca Zone   B Benedict Rides Blue Hill Ocean Dance Blues From The Rainforest Bolinas Brown   C Charisma (She's Got) Child's Play Chock-Lite Puddin' Come To Me   D Dance Of The Fireflies Dance Of The Pink Dolphins Do I Care   E Eduardo (Can You Hear Me Calling)   F Fast_Tone Feel Like Sufferin' Fiesta Amazonica First Time Five More Follow   G Groove Juice   H Here's a Little Groove for You, Pt. 1 Here's a Little Groove for You, Pt. 2 Hero's Blues How's That   I I Of Newton In Love with Love The Iron Horse Is The Grass Much Greener It's in the Air (Konfusion)   K Keepers * Keepers (Finders)* Kentucky Rye - Part I Kentucky Rye - Part II Kentucky Rye - Part III Keystone Jam Keystone Korner Jam   L Lay Back Baby Left Out In The Cold Lions Share Jam Little Bit of Righteousness Lonesome Fever   M M.S. Man Child Melons In Season Merl's Tune My Problems Got Problems My Train   N Nostalgia For Jerome   P Paris Blues Party 'Til The Morning Light Play the Paris Blues Prayer For The Trees   R Resurrection Rag Righteousness The Riot Run River Run   S San Francisco After Dark Save Mother Earth Save Mother Earth Part 1 Save Mother Earth Part 2 Saxy Soul She's Got Charisma Since I Lost My Baby (Instrumental Jam) Soul Grooving Soul Roach Soul Roach Part 1 Soul Roach Part 2 Space Sri Lanka Suite From 'Nightcrawlers' Suite From 'The Misfortune Cookie' Summertime in the Big City Sunrise Over Haleakala Sweetwater The System   T Tellin' My Friends This Melody to Keep You Warm Tighten Up The Twilight Zone '85 End Credits The Twilight Zone '85 Main Title   W Walk The River Welcome to the Basement When Will I Know Wondering Why