ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 262 THE GRATEFUL DEAD - AMERICAN BEAUTY (45TH ANNIVERSARY - 1970)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: The Grateful Dead

Genre: Rock

Nationality: American

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: Yes

Album: American Beauty

Producer: Grateful Dead/Steve Barncard

Release Date: November 1, 1970

Running Time: 42:21

RIAA Certification: Double Platinum

Peak Billboard Chart Position: #30 (Billboard)

Singles: Truckin' (Hot 100 #64)/Ripple

 

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it). 

First Friday is tomorrow, so it's time for an anniversary album.  Once again, we step backwards to 1970.  And since July 4th is this weekend, we need something that sounds American.  So let's go with a very American band, The Grateful Dead, and let's feature their 1970 album American Beauty.  The Grateful Dead does not get much, if any, attention her at CRB.  In my case, it's mainly because I've never had the desire to hear their music.  This is one of two of their studio albums that I have bought in the last year or two.  I also own a greatest hits disc.

If you are new to the band, they are known as a "jam band".  The band hails from the San Francisco Bay area and are known for their improvisation.  GD was known to use collaborators, and this album prominently featured lyrics by Robert Hunter.  American Beauty is the band's sixth studio album and is a fusion of bluegrass, rock and roll, folk and country.  Two singles were released from the album (Truckin' and Ripple), but other songs receiving some airplay were Box Of Rain, Sugar Magnolia and Friend Of The Devil.  

I guess picking this album works well for me because I've really been listening to the American genre lately, also known for it's fusion of genres.  American Beauty is readily available at Amazon.  You can get Rhino's reissue with 8 bonus tracks for just over ten U.S. dollars.  

So what about you?  Are you a Dead Head?  Do you have any memories of this album?  Or if you are new to the band's music, what is your first impression?

Side One:

1. Box Of Rain

2. Friend Of The Devil

3. Sugar Magnolia

4. Operator

5. Candyman

Side Two:

6. Ripple

7. Brokedown Palace

8. Till The Morning Comes

9. Attics Of My Life

10. Truckin'

[Scott]

So I think the moral of the story is to not post GD and Tull back to back or we may never wake up!!

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, I promise, I won't EVER post anything GD.

But I WILL post Tull in the future. Or "Dull", as you might call them.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Ha ha....Jethro Dull. Good one.

[Scott]

I'm not a DeadHead either, and had hoped this would be better, but I found this to be very flat and slow going.  I wouldn't go as far as boring, but its treading into that territory.  The harmonies sound OK, but theres nothing that brings them together, its just a jam session.

SO maybe that's the thing with Dead fans, its a Live thing, and studio albums are just Tour-fuel.  I must say the thought of seeing them live is far more interesting than listening to another studio album!  Maybe not even because of the music but because of the people watching...  Nice slice of history posted here though, and so its a fine post and necessary listening experience.  Now I can check GD off the list....