Grateful Dead Archives - Progrography

[Review] The Grateful Dead (1967)

On their debut, they sound like a hippie version of the English R&B explosion. To paraphrase a former newt, they got better.

The band’s second album better reflects their psychedelic stageshow, including those infamous extended jams.

[Kronomyth 4.0] Live/Debt.

[Kronomyth 5.0] Owsley, Steel & Nashville Skyline.

You’ve just volunteered for an all-star interstellar trip. Enjoy the ride…

[Kronomyth 6.1] Truckindoscopy.

The Dead’s two best albums are bookended by double live albums. This is the other one.

Originally cast as an offshoot of the Dead, this debut features Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart and some of the Riders’ most enduring tracks.

The Dead take their revolving songbook on the road to Europe with the Godchauxes in tow for Pigpen’s last ride.

The material isn’t as strong, the Dead connection is weaker, but Buddy Cage and Nicky Hopkins are classy adds.

Jerry’s first true solo album is the real deal, not to mention all the other great songs that have since been rolled into…

The famous pair pool their talents for a solid collection of new songs that suggests the better halves of their solo albums combined.

Believe it or not, this song wasn’t released as a single until a live version was excised from the Europe ’72 set.

Another live album, this time featuring handpicked selections from the band’s (chemical) engineer, Owsley “Bear” Stanley.

The band expands their musical palette with exciting results on their first studio album since American Beauty.