- Released: 9/29/2023
- Limited Edition
- 180g Audiophile Vinyl
- Double LP
- Mastered from the Original Warner Records, Grateful Dead Records & Arista Records Tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music Studios
- Compiled by David Lemieux & James Austin
- Original CD Cover Artwork in Full Album-Size Gatefold Format
- Complete LP vinyl full color cover discography
In 2003, Warner Records compiled an amazing compact disc overview of the Grateful Dead's most memorable and fan driven favorites appropriately titled The Very Best Of Grateful Dead. The collection featured the brilliant and sorely missed vocals and guitar musings of Jerry Garcia, the rockin' guitar and vocals of Bob Weir, the driving bass and vocals of Phil Lesh, the powerful drums of Bill Kreuztmann, Tom Constanten and Mickey Hart, Donna Jean Godchaux on vocals, plus the sorely missed keyboard wizardry of Ron McKernan, Keith Godchaux and Brent Mydland.
This mammoth 17-song collection had something for everybody as it culled tracks not only from the Warner vaults, but from the Grateful Dead label and Artista Records period of the band's output. Therefore, a good majority of the hits and definitive Dead tracks are included on this career compendium of songs which will forever stand the test of time.
Their best loved songs from Workingman's Dead and American Beauty are featured with tracks like "Casey Jones", "Uncle John's Band", "Truckin'" and "Sugar Magnolia". Plus even more Grateful Dead anthems from their own Grateful Dead label are included like "The Music Never Stopped", "Eyes Of The World" and "U.S. Blues", most featuring the memorable lyrics of Robert Hunter.
The later Arista era is also highlighted with massive smash hits like "Touch Of Grey" and more rockers like "Fire On The Mountain" and "Estimated Prophet".
The music of the trailblazing Grateful Dead have made them one of the most loved bands of all time. Their concerts were history making events, their albums and songs were of legendary proportion, and the cosmic energy between each individual member spearheaded by the late great Jerry Garcia is of unequalled dimension.
Friday Music is pleased once again to revisit with you some of the finest music ever recorded with the stellar audiophile vinyl reissue of The Very Best Of Grateful Dead. This deluxe two-disc 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl limited edition LP is mastered impeccably from the original Warner/Grateful Dead/Arista tapes by Joe Reagoso (Grateful Dead/Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane) at Friday Music Studios and features all of the original 17 tracks as hand-picked by Dead archivists James Austin and David Lemieux.
For this special limited edition release, Friday Music is also including the original compact disc cover artwork in a full album-sized gatefold presentation, which will truly enhance your hours of listening enjoyment, as it features rare photos, as well as a complete LP vinyl full color cover discography.
The Very Best Of The Grateful Dead...Relive your favorite moments once again with these incredible musicians, their amazing legacy and their unforgettable songs.
1 Truckin'
2 Touch of Grey
3 Sugar Magnolia
4 Casey Jones
5 Uncle John's Band
6 Friend of the Devil
7 Franklin's Tower
8 Estimated Prophet
9 Eyes of the World
10 Box of Rain
11 U.S. Blues
12 The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)
13 One More Saturday Night (Live at the Strand Lyceum, London, England, May 24, 1972)
14 Fire on the Mountain
15 The Music Never Stopped
16 Hell in a Bucket
17 Ripple