| The Very Best of the Grateful Dead | 
 enlarge | List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.31
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 44 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1865
Category: Music
Artist: Grateful Dead
Publisher: Rhino / Wea
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
Label: Rhino / Wea
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 73899
UPC: 081227389925
EAN: 0081227389925
ASIN: B0000C23DO
Release Date: September 16, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Truckin' - Grateful Dead, Garica, Jerry | | • | Touch of Grey | | • | Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead, Weir, Bob | | • | Casey Jones | | • | Uncle John's Band | | • | Friend of the Devil | | • | Franklin's Tower | | • | Estimated Prophet - Grateful Dead, Weir, Bob | | • | Eyes of the World | | • | Box of Rain - Grateful Dead, Lesh, Phil | | • | U.S. Blues | | • | The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) | | • | One More Saturday Night - Grateful Dead, Weir, Bob | | • | Fire on the Mountain - Grateful Dead, Hart, Mickey | | • | The Music Never Stopped - Grateful Dead, Weir, Bob | | • | Hell in a Bucket - Grateful Dead, Barlow, John | | • | Ripple |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
The first-ever compilation bringing together the best of their Warner Bros., Grateful Dead records, and Arista years on a single disc - TV-marketed and remastered in HDCD! 17 tracks including 'One More Saturday Night' (live, 1972). Slipcase. 2003.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 (4.5 stars) WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN ! (this collection could've been more extensive, but it's still a winner) September 28, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Grateful Dead began their "long, strange trip" in San Francisco in 1965 (originally as "The Warlocks"). Of course, they later became a legendary jam band that filled concert stadiums and sold millions of albums. Their sound was a laid back and psychedelic mix of rock, folk, country, jazz, gospel and bluegrass that included extra long improvisational instrumental jams.
Although reluctantly, singer and lead guitarist Jerry Garcia was seen as the face of the band by many fans. The group disbanded after Garcia's death at 52 from a heart attack in 1995. Other original members Bob Weir (guitar), Phil Lesh (bass), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums) also consistently stayed with the Dead for the duration.
The Dead's dedicated fans are known as "Dead Heads", and some have even followed the band from city to city as they toured, attending every concert. The band also allowed fans to record their shows providing there were no profits made from the recordings.
The Very Best of the Grateful Dead (2003) includes seventeen songs that have been digitally remastered (to perfection), but are in no particular order. The song selection is on the mark, but keep in mind that this is the radio-friendly side of the band, and there is only one live selection, One More Saturday Night from Europe 72. Now, I'm no Dead Head (even though I did see them live once), and this collection really works for me. Nobody asked me before this was released, but if they had, I would've suggested that they add a second disc with all live material. Oh, well.
There are five songs here from the album American Beauty, and two each from Workingman's Dead, Blues for Allah, and In the Dark. The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) from the band's 1967 self-titled debut is the oldest song on the album, and Touch Of Grey, their Top Ten single from 1987, is the newest. The liner notes include an essay on The Grateful Dead's history, and information on each song including songwriter, album, release date, and producer. There are also some cool photographs of the band. The skeleton and roses on gold album cover is perfect.
For the casual Dead fan this is the way to go. It beats Skeletons From The Closet: The Best Of The Grateful Dead by a long shot, and the sound quality here is perfect. I knocked off a half star because the songs aren't in chronological order. That doesn't ruin this for me, but I do prefer that feature in Best Of collections. Anyway, The Very Best of the Grateful Dead is still recommended, and very enjoyable. The Dead made some great music.
When I first listened to this, I was surprised at how much The Grateful Dead's music had been a part of the musical landscape in my life over the years. These songs triggered memories of people and places I haven't thought of in years. Truckin', Casey Jones, Sugar Magnolia, U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band, A Friend Of The Devil, Touch Of Grey. Oh, the memories!
What a long, strange trip it's been...
Grateful September 25, 2008
This disc is a must for people who like the Grateful Dead, but who don't feel the need to own every cut they ever recorded. One hit track after another.
For casual Deadheads March 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The 2003 Rhino collection 'The Very Best of the Grateful Dead' is the set to own if you're a casual fan. You get 17 classic Dead songs, and for a relatively low price as well.
This set is very enjoyable. You get all of the songs a casual Deadhead will need. 'Sugar Magnolia,' 'Casey Jones,' 'Truckin,' 'Touch Of Grey,' and a great live version of 'One More Saturday Night.' This is classic rock at it's finest.
But, there are some key songs missing. 'China Doll' and the underrated classic 'And We Bid You Goodnight' should be on this set. Rhino probably should have made this a two CD set. But this is still a great set for anybody that wants a nice, single-disc collection.
And, the sound quality is amazing. Rhino did an excellent job remastering the songs. It's worth buying just for the amazing sound quality.
Highly recommended for the casual Deadhead. ENJOY!!!
 Not so Grateful January 1, 2008
I bought this for my husband. I didn't like it very much but he seems well satisfied.
Dead Heads or Casual listeners December 17, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am not a "Dead Head" but I like the music. This alblum has most of my favorite Grateful Dead songs and the recordings are excellent.
I might point out that these are mostly studio recordings, there is only one live track. The Grateful Dead's music in a studio (like most groups) has a different feel than live music. Some would even say that they are different songs when done live.
If you are not a "Dead head" I would still recommend this CD. Then, I might recommend listeniong to the same songs on live alblums.
On another note, there are a lot of emotions flying around about the band and the times. As a teenager, I was caught between waring factions of the social and political arena. The Grateful Dead's music has drug and lifestyle references of the times. But, being a forty five year old guy (who actually is balding and fighting a losing battle with a growing gut), I look at the emotional experience with the music as a glimpse at history and not an endorsement for a lifestyle that we gave up thirty five or so years before.
Good tunes, though, and not terribly expensive.
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