The Best of the Grateful Dead

The Best of the Grateful Dead is an album by the rock band the Grateful Dead. It is a two-CD compilation of songs recorded in the studio from throughout their career. It includes at least one track from each of their studio albums, recorded from 1967 to 1989 and arranged in chronological order. It was released by Rhino Records on March 31, 2015.[1][2][3][4]

The Best of the Grateful Dead
The "skull and roses" design, with a black background
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedMarch 31, 2015 (2015-03-31)
Recorded1967–1989
GenreRock
LabelRhino
ProducerGrateful Dead
Grateful Dead chronology
Dave's Picks Volume 13
(2015)
The Best of the Grateful Dead
(2015)
Dave's Picks Volume 14
(2015)

The Best of the Grateful Dead includes songs from all the studio albums in the band's discography,[5] along with one non-album single "Dark Star" (recorded in 1968 as part of the Anthem of the Sun studio sessions).[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]

On AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "[The album] follows a strict chronological sequence, so it takes a little while for the psychedelic haze to lift and the Dead to settle into the rangy, rootsy groove that characterized so much of their existence... From there, many—but by no means all—of the group's warhorses are marched out, all in their studio incarnations.... By celebrating the warts and providing space for that unexpected late–'80s commercial comeback, The Best of the Grateful Dead is a good capsule history of a band that usually defies such straightforward narratives."[6]

Track listing

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Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)"Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Ron McKernan, Bob WeirThe Grateful Dead (1967)2:11
2."Cream Puff War"GarciaThe Grateful Dead 2:29
3."Born Cross-Eyed"WeirAnthem of the Sun (1968)2:24
4."Dark Star"Garcia, Mickey Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, McKernan, Weir, Robert HunterNon-album single (1968)2:42
5."St. Stephen"Garcia, Lesh, HunterAoxomoxoa (1969)4:27
6."China Cat Sunflower"Garcia, HunterAoxomoxoa3:41
7."Uncle John's Band"Garcia, HunterWorkingman's Dead (1970)4:44
8."Easy Wind"HunterWorkingman's Dead4:58
9."Casey Jones"Garcia, HunterWorkingman's Dead4:25
10."Truckin'"Garcia, Lesh, Weir, HunterAmerican Beauty (1970)5:07
11."Box of Rain"Lesh, HunterAmerican Beauty5:19
12."Sugar Magnolia"Weir, HunterAmerican Beauty3:17
13."Friend of the Devil"Garcia, John Dawson, HunterAmerican Beauty3:24
14."Ripple"Garcia, HunterAmerican Beauty4:11
15."Eyes of the World"Garcia, HunterWake of the Flood (1973)5:18
16."Unbroken Chain"Lesh, Robert PetersenFrom the Mars Hotel (1974)6:45
17."Scarlet Begonias"Garcia, HunterFrom the Mars Hotel4:19
18."The Music Never Stopped"Weir, John BarlowBlues for Allah (1975)4:35
19."Estimated Prophet"Weir, BarlowTerrapin Station (1977)5:36
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Terrapin Station"Garcia, Hart, Kreutzmann, HunterTerrapin Station16:22
2."Shakedown Street"Garcia, HunterShakedown Street (1978)5:00
3."I Need a Miracle"Weir, BarlowShakedown Street3:35
4."Fire on the Mountain"Hart, HunterShakedown Street3:49
5."Feel Like a Stranger"Weir, BarlowGo to Heaven (1980)5:08
6."Far from Me"Brent MydlandGo to Heaven3:41
7."Touch of Grey"Garcia, HunterIn the Dark (1987)5:50
8."Hell in a Bucket"Weir, Barlow, MydlandIn the Dark5:38
9."Throwing Stones"Weir, BarlowIn the Dark7:21
10."Black Muddy River"Garcia, HunterIn the Dark6:00
11."Blow Away"Mydland, BarlowBuilt to Last (1989)6:11
12."Foolish Heart"Garcia, HunterBuilt to Last5:12
13."Standing on the Moon"Garcia, HunterBuilt to Last5:21

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Giles, Jeff (January 21, 2015). "Grateful Dead Announce 50th Anniversary Compilation and New Archival Live Set", Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. ^ "Grateful Dead to Release Best of Compilation to Kick Off 50th Anniversary", jambands.com, January 31, 2015.
  3. ^ Lynn, Laura (January 26, 2015). "The Best of the Grateful Dead Arrives March 31", Dubuque's Super Hits 106. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. ^ The Best of the Grateful Dead, dead.net, January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  5. ^ a b The Best of the Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead Family Discography. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Best of the Grateful Dead at AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2015.