14. The Grateful Dead | American Beauty (1970)



The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. Ranging from quintet to septet, the band is known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, rock, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams, and for their devoted fan base, known as "Deadheads". "Their music," writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists."

American Beauty is the fifth Grateful Dead studio album, released on November 1, 1970, by Warner Bros. Records. The album continued with the folk rock and country music style as on their previous album Workingman's Dead, which was released earlier in the year. The sound of the album focused more on folk harmonies and major-key melodies, showing influence from Bob Dylan and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. The songs within the album contain lyrics written by Robert Hunter and also sees Jerry Garcia play pedal steel guitar in place of lead guitar.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-voC5IrYeAA

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