The Best Of The Grateful Dead Volume 2: 1977 - 1989

Sound DNA

• Rock
• Psych Rock

• warm
• hypnotic
• psychedelic

About

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 <i>American Beauty</i>, 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.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits