If a novice or a casual fan is seeking an introduction to—or a brief summary of—one of rock ’n’ roll’s legendary bands, this 2003 Dead collection does a satisfactory job of going over the “hits” for a group not often overly concerned about its hitmaking potential. Throwing 1987’s “Touch of Grey” into the second position refutes chronology in favor of a sequence that plays like a natural album. Five tracks here are from the excellent 1970 album American Beauty, with the remainder coming from across the band’s career, regardless of the labels that first issued the material. Deadheads will insist that even a casual fan should own a half-dozen live albums to better understand the band’s dynamic, and that’s not a bad idea for someone wishing to better know the Dead. However, most people looking for familiar songs will be satisfied: “Truckin’,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Casey Jones,” “Uncle John’s Band,” and “Friend of the Devil,” for starters, are all classic rock ’n’ roll.
Tracklisting
- The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)
- Beat It On Down The Line
- Good Mornin’ Little School Girl
- Cold Rain And Snow
- Sittin’ On Top Of The World
- Cream Puff War
- Morning Dew
- New, New Minglewood Blues
- Viola Lee Blues
Apple Music
Release Images
Release Information
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia URL | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grateful_Dead_(album) |
| Format | Vinyl LP Album Limited Edition Picture Disc Reissue |
| Label | Rhino Records (2) |
| Catalog Number | R1 557478 |
| Notes | Limited Edition Of 10,000 50th Anniversary Edition |
| Discogs URL | The Grateful Dead - The Grateful Dead |