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The Grateful Dead on Warner Brothers

The Grateful Dead were signed by Warner Brothers in 1966 and released their first LP early the following year. The group stayed with the company for over 6 years during which time they released 9 albums, the last of which, History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice), was released in 1973 to fulfil their contract. Three solo albums by members of the groups were released on Warner Brothers during this period. A number of singles by the Grateful Dead and solo band members were also released. Grateful Dead and related tracks were also included on a number of Warner Brothers compilations between 1968 and 1973.

Music from the Grateful Dead Warner Brothers catalogue has been released on a number of compilations since 1973 culminating in the release of the extensive box set, The Golden Road (1965-1973), in 2001.

Grateful Dead albums

The Grateful Dead

The first Grateful Dead LP was recorded in January 1967 in Los Angeles and released in March 1967. The LP cover notes describe the groups as "San Francisco's Grateful Dead: Bob Weir, Pigpen, Bill The Drummer, Jerry ("Captain Trips") Garcia, and Phil Lesh."

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Anthem of the Sun

The second Grateful Dead album is a composite of live and studio recording. Studio recordings took place between Sept and Dec 1967. This material was enhanced with music from live performance between Nov 1967 and March 1968. The LP was released in June 1968.

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Aoxomoxoa

The third Grateful Dead LP and the first to benefit from Robert Hunter lyrics throughout. The first self produced Dead album and the first made using sixteen track tape technology. The album title came from the cover artist Rick Griffin who had been experimenting letter groupings.

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Live/Dead

A double LP of live music recorded at Grateful Dead shows on January 26, 1969, February 27, 1969 and March 2, 1969 though sequenced to give the appearance of a single set.

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Workingman's Dead

The Dead return to their roots. Garcia described the album: "...we decided to play more or less straight-ahead songs and not get hung up with effects and weirdness. For me, the models were music that I'd liked before that was basically simply constructed but terribly effective - like the old Buck Owens records from Bakersfield. Those records were basic rock & roll: nice, raw, simple, straight-ahead music, with good vocals and substantial instrumentation but nothing flashy."

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American Beauty

A continuation of the song based style developed in Workingman's Dead. Considered by many to be the Dead's finest studio album.

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Grateful Dead (aka Skull & Roses)

A double LP of live material from Grateful Dead shows in March and April 1971. Garcia described the release for Rolling Stone: "It's the prototype Grateful Dead. Basic unit. Each of those tracks is the total picture, a good example of what the Grateful Dead really is, musically."

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Europe '72

A triple LP of live material recorded during the Grateful Dead tour of Europe in April and May 1972. The original set included an eight page booklet containing photographs of the tour, a list of the Europe '72 shows, ads for t-shirts and LPs and Robert Hunter's brief piece about hypnocracy, St. Dilbert, Bozos and Bolos.

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History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice)

A single LP of acoustic and electric material from the Grateful Dead shows on February 13 and 14, 1970 at the Fillmore East.

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Solo albums on Warner Brothers

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Garcia, Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia's first solo album recorded over a three week period in late Summer 1971 and released in January 1972. It was recorded almost entirely by Garcia with assistance from Bill Kreutzmann (drums) and Robert Hunter (lyrics).

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Ace, Bob Weir

Bob Weir's first solo LP released in May 1972. A Grateful Dead album in all but name. The musicians involved were the then line-up of the Dead plus Dave Torbert.

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Rolling Thunder, Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart's first solo recording released in Sept 1972 and recorded over what the 3rd Deadheads newsletter described as "a year and a half's" period. Contributions from a wide range of musicians including Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir played on the album.

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Grateful Dead compilations

Skeletons From The Closet

Single LP compilation comprising 11 tracks from the Grateful Dead Warner Brothers LPs and one track from the Bob Weir Ace album.

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What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

Double LP compilation released in October 1977. 18 tracks from the Warner Brothers LPs and one Warner Brothers single.

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The Golden Road (1965-1973)

12 CD box set remastered reissue of all the Grateful Dead albums on the Warner Brothers label. In addition to the albums the set includes two CDs of early material and many bonus tracks. In total over 15 hours of music, 7 hours of which is previously unreleased. Also includes an 80 page booklet.

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Rhino Hi-Five: The Grateful Dead

A 5 song downloadable album of tracks originally released on Warner Brothers LPs.

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Warner Brothers Studio Albums Vinyl Box Set

A 5 LP box set comprising the 5 studio albums released the Warner Brothers label. The albums are pressed on 180 gram vinyl. The set includes the original mixes of Anthem Of The Sun and Aoxomoxoa. Also includes a 12" x 12" booklet.

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Grateful Dead and related singles on Warner Brothers

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info The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) / Cream Puff War, Grateful Dead, 1967
info Dark Star / Born Cross-Eyed, Grateful Dead, 1968
info Dupree's Diamond Blues / Cosmic Charlie, Grateful Dead, 1969
info Uncle John's Band / New Speedway Boogie, Grateful Dead, 1970
info Truckin' / Ripple, Grateful Dead, 1971
info Deal / The Wheel, Jerry Garcia, 1972
info Single (One More Saturday Night / Cassidy), Bob Weir, 1972
info Blind John / Pump Song, Mickey Hart, 1972
info Johnny B. Goode / Truckin', Grateful Dead, 1972
info Sugaree / Eep Hour, Jerry Garcia, 1972
info Sugar Magnolia / Mr. Charlie, Grateful Dead, 1972
info Truckin' / Sugar Magnolia, Grateful Dead, 1974?

Warner Brothers anniversary release with Dead tracks

Revolutions In Sound: Warner Bros. Records: The First Fifty Years

A 10 CD box set of fifty years of Warner Bros. music. Includes The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) from the first Grateful Dead LP.

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Revolutions In Sound: Warner Bros. Records: The First Fifty Years

A 321 track USB flash drive compilation of fifty years of Warner Bros. music. Includes three Grateful Dead tracks; The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion), Box of Rain and Bertha.

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Warner Brothers samplers that include Dead related tracks

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The 1969 Warner/Reprise Record Show

A double LP loss leader sampler that includes an abridged version of Doin' That Rag from the Aoxomoxoa LP.

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Some Of Our Best Friends Are

A single LP promotional release that includes either the Anthem Of The Sun version or the single version of Born Cross-Eyed.

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The Big Ball

A double LP loss leader sampler that includes an edited version of Turn On Your Lovelight from Live/Dead.

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Looney Tunes Merrie Melodies

A triple LP box set sampler that includes one track, Sugar Magnolia, from American Beauty.

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The Whole Burbank Catalog

A double LP sampler that includes one track, The Wheel, from Garcia's first solo LP.

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Burbank

A double LP sampler that includes one track, Cassidy, from Bob Weir's Ace LP.

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Days Of Wine And Vinyl

A double LP sampler that includes one track, Blind John, from Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder LP.

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KYA 1260 Great Ripoff Album

A single LP sampler that includes Bertha taken from the double Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses) album.

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Warner Brothers promotional compilations with Grateful Dead related tracks

Warner/Reprise Display Case Vol. 3

A double LP promotional compilation that includes three tracks, The Wheel, Bird Song and Dead, from Jerry Garcia's first solo LP.

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Warner/Reprise Display Case Vol. 7

A double LP promotional compilation that includes a track, Cassidy, from Ace, the first Bob Weir album.

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Warner/Reprise Display Case Vol. 9

A double LP promotional compilation that includes three three Mickey Hart tracks, Grandma's Cookies, Blind John and Young Man from the Rolling Thunder LP.

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Warner Brothers Superstars compilations (1973-1975) with Dead related tracks

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Superstars Of The '70s

A 4 LP compilation that includes Truckin' from the Grateful Dead LP American Beauty.

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Superstars Of The '70s, Volume 2: Heavy Metal

A 2 LP compilation that includes Johnny B. Goode from the double Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses) album.

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Superstars Of The '70s, Volume 4: Silver Bullets

A 2 LP compilation that includes Casey Jones from the Grateful Dead LP Workingman's Dead.

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Miscellaneous releases

Grateful Dead Trilogy

A 3 CD box set repackaging of the Live Dead, American Beauty and Workingman's Dead albums. Possibly only released in Europe.

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2 Originals of The Grateful Dead

Double LP repackaging of the first two Dead LPs, The Grateful Dead and Anthem Of The Sun. Probably only released in Europe in the late 1970's.

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American Beauty / Workingman's Dead

A single cassette release of the two LPs American Beauty and Workingman's Dead. Released in the early 1980's.

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Last updated August 2010