Grateful Dead Albums Ranked

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and psychedelic rock; for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams; and for its devoted fan base, known as “Deadheads.” “Their music,” writes Lenny Kaye, “touches on ground that most other groups don’t even know exists.” These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead “the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world”. The band was ranked 57th by Rolling Stone magazine in its The Greatest Artists of All Time issue. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and a recording of their May 8, 1977 performance at Cornell University’s Barton Hall was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2012. The Grateful Dead have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. The Grateful Dead was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area amid the rise of the counterculture of the 1960s. The founding members were Jerry Garcia (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Members of the Grateful Dead had played together in various San Francisco bands, including Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks. Lesh was the last member to join the Warlocks before they became the Grateful Dead; he replaced Dana Morgan Jr., who had played bass for a few gigs. Drummer Mickey Hart and nonperforming lyricist Robert Hunter joined in 1967. With the exception of McKernan, who died in 1973, and Hart, who took time off from 1971 to 1974, the core of the band stayed together for its entire 30-year history. The other official members of the band are Tom Constanten (keyboards; 1968–1970), John Perry Barlow (nonperforming lyricist; 1971–1995) Keith Godchaux (keyboards; 1971–1979), Donna Godchaux (vocals; 1972–1979), Brent Mydland (keyboards, vocals; 1979–1990), and Vince Welnick (keyboards, vocals; 1990–1995). Bruce Hornsby (accordion, piano, vocals) was a touring member from 1990 to 1992, as well as a guest with the band on occasion before and after the tours. Here are all Grateful Dead albums ranked.

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10. Anthem of the Sun (1968)

“This second album from the Dead is the most experimental album the band ever released. A true artifact from the late ’60s–and an attempt at a psychedelic experience on an LP–the combination of live and studio tracks (live tracks/edits from several venues in ’67-’68) was truly something different. The weaving of live segments (where it seems two drummers can be heard at times) into studio recordings brings the album into another realm–the “Caution…” portion is still a high point for me all these years later. And if you were around at that time you probably can still remember what it was like to bring this album home, with that strange cover (in all it’s 12″ glory) and slip that disc (with no spaces between the tracks, and the phrase “the faster we go the rounder we get” inscribed in the run out groove) onto your turntable and then be blown away by what you heard. I still do.”

9. Aoxomoxoa (1969)

“I thought if knew Aoxomoxoa inside and out but I was mistaken. Listening to this record with the 1969 mix is like hearing a new album. Every track has something different going on that I’d never heard before. Way more keyboards and drums to begin with. Probably the song that is the most different on this mix is What’s Become Of The Baby. But they’re all quite different than the 71 mix.”

8. Blues for Allah (1975)

” It’s the very first time I have heard Blues For Allah sound warm, lush and musically involving. I always loved the record to begin with but this is the very best RE-mastering job I have ever heard. Much thanks to Kevin Grey & Steve Hoffman of Audio Fidelity for their dedication to perfection.”

7. Wake of the Flood (1973)

“Ironically I have this album on original vinyl, but ordered the Rhino version anyway because I wanted the extra tracks. This really may be the best Dead album all things considered. The extra tracks are totally worth it. Bob Weir’s studio acoustic version of “Weather Report Suite” is absolutely amazing – Some of the best acoustic guitar work you will hear. The extended live version of “Eyes of the World” is typical Live Dead (on a good day). Perfect.”

6. Terrapin Station (1977)

“This has always been one of my favorite albums from Grateful Dead. I like the stories told my the musical lyrics. This album probably started my love for the Grateful Dead.”

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5. From the Mars Hotel (1974)

“This is a fluid sounding album that can be heard from start to finish w / out much difficulty. Now, with the bonus tracks, it s even funner. This is an album as the liner notes mention was executed in a time when the Dead were going through slight changes and also about to encounter a big one, which was their hiatus in ‘ 75.”

4. Live/Dead (1969)

“”Live Dead” is a classic collection of tracks, remastered from their performance at the Fillmore West in 1969. The album opens with a very strong version of Dark Star. This version is familiar to most early fans, because it was the first live version of Dark Star we ever bought.”

3. Europe ’72 (1972)

“This is probably the greatest Grateful Dead album hands down. Especially if don’t have any of their huge output. There are many studio vocals added and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s not truly a “live album”.”

2. Workingman’s Dead (1970)

“This is my favorite album. It has an overall country vibe with Jerry playing the steel guitar on Dire Wolf and Pigpen singing about the bayou on Easy Wind. It also has an overall mellow vibe, especially High Time and Black Peter, but New Speedway Boogie and Casey Jones punctuate the album with high energy. It has a rustic vibe while still being a highly-polished, perfectly-executed effort.”

1. American Beauty (1970)

“One of my favorite Dead albums since I first became a dead head in the 80’s. I actually had to return the first copy they shipped me because of a damaged cover but the replacement arrived much quicker than the anticipated date. The sound quality is exquisite. The depth of the soundstage and separation of the individual instruments and harmonies incredible.”