https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/comments/1igaw6y/good_dead_albums/
created by bennyboy184859 on 02/02/2025 at 23:24 UTC*
6 upvotes, 24 top-level comments (showing 24)
stuff I’ve heard: dylan and the dead, dark star (single / super long version), workingman’s dead, american beauty, and I just listened to blues for allah twice this afternoon! and i gotta say, i liked it a lot.
where do I go from here?
Comment by PunditReview at 02/02/2025 at 23:42 UTC
17 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Go to Europe’72
Comment by Colefusion64 at 02/02/2025 at 23:29 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think it’s time to hit Cornell 5/8/77
Comment by jonz1985z at 02/02/2025 at 23:51 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’d check out From The Mars Hotel and Skull and Roses which is a live album with vocal and keyboard overdubs, making it kind of a hybrid. Also Jerry’s solo album’s “Garcia” and “Cats Under The Stars”
Comment by Bigriver1138 at 03/02/2025 at 00:28 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Without a net
Comment by _Dickbagel at 02/02/2025 at 23:38 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Then hit veneta
Comment by mishaxz at 03/02/2025 at 00:05 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Download Series, From the Vault Series, Dick's & Dave's Picks Series, Road Trips, plenty of good albums.. just make sure they are live recordings.
Comment by LunaSteeth at 03/02/2025 at 01:17 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Reckoning
Comment by Streetvan1980 at 03/02/2025 at 01:59 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Spring 90 two box sets are both filled with absolute gold.
Other multi track releases from 1989 are incredible like 7/4/89 “truckin up to Buffalo”.
The Warlock shows 10/8/89 and 10/9/89
3/9/81
I’m a big Brent era fan. So 79-90. There’s so many great shows during that period. Band kept getting better and better over time (until late 90-95) and they kept adding great songs. Personally I don’t get people who can only listen to pre 75 and miss out on terrapin station and shakedown street to name a few albums with tons of great songs
Comment by Resident_Price_2817 at 03/02/2025 at 02:51 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Aoxomoxoa
Comment by Suspicious-Rip-7385 at 02/02/2025 at 23:53 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Good suggestions here, and for another studio album, In the Dark
Comment by Any-Medicine-1126 at 03/02/2025 at 01:11 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Jerry’s first record
Comment by fahrjack66 at 03/02/2025 at 01:19 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
NOT Dylan & The Dead. lol.
Comment by weakendstraw87 at 03/02/2025 at 01:25 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wake of the flood
Comment by highsideofgood at 03/02/2025 at 03:35 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Honestly, work your way through their studio stuff (including official live releases) chronologically, while also listening to some live shows from every year. They did a LOT of stylistic shifts from 65-78.
Comment by Ohiopaddy at 03/02/2025 at 00:38 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you like Blues... One From The Vault. Complete live debut of Blues for Allah, and the intro from Bill Graham into help on the way is 🔥
Comment by Inkstayn at 03/02/2025 at 01:45 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Without a net is always good. Alpine valley 89 movie is downhill from here think they released a cd too.
Comment by PaulNerb1 at 03/02/2025 at 02:24 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Put Reckoning high on the list
Comment by Equal-Concept4384 at 03/02/2025 at 02:31 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
oregon state pen '82
Comment by Low-Energy-432 at 03/02/2025 at 02:58 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Boot legs or dicks picks
Comment by shoppirs at 03/02/2025 at 03:47 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Internet archives - 77/78
Comment by edked at 03/02/2025 at 04:37 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
After years and years of my Deadhead friends recommending all the usual suspects listed here (like Workingman's, Skull & Roses, etc.) I wondered why they never steered me towards the albums that really ended up grabbing me, namely Aoxomoxoa and Anthem of the Sun, even though they knew I loved shit like Barret Floyd and Satanic Majesties.
There seem to be this list of default recommendations that makes a lot of assumptions about what newcomers are going to like ("the acid-rock stuff is hard to get into, everybody loves back-to basics country-influenced rock, tell 'em to go with Workingman's") which doesn't necessarily apply to everybody. I do love all the songs off of those now, though, and always liked Europe 72 (though I grew to love some rougher versions of the songs from a year or two earlier a tad more as I got more into just getting into show recordings).
Comment by Guilty-Air-5731 at 03/02/2025 at 05:07 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Dozin at the Knick from early '90 era. Solid versions from later Dead. Recorded from March 24-26 shows. Some of my favorite versions of Jack a Roe, Terrapin Station, and Black Peter.
Comment by Macksler at 03/02/2025 at 08:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Their debut record remains one of my favourites to this day.
Comment by CO-freeride at 03/02/2025 at 02:13 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
One from the Vault