Grateful Dead - Skeletons From The Closet: Best Of [Vinyl]

Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead arrived in February 1974 as the band's first official compilation, cherry-picking some of their most accessible and radio-friendly material from their Warner Bros. years. While die-hard Deadheads might gravitate toward the band's sprawling live performances and deeper album cuts, this collection serves as an ideal entry point for newcomers and a convenient overview of the Dead's studio highlights from 1967 to 1972. The compilation captured a band capable of far more than extended improvisations, showcasing their gift for crafting memorable songs rooted in folk, country, blues, and psychedelic rock.

The collection features gems like "Uncle John's Band," a folk-rock singalong that became one of their signature tunes, "Truckin'," the band's highest-charting single with its road-weary storytelling, and "Casey Jones," a rollicking outlaw tale driven by Jerry Garcia's bright guitar work. Other standouts include the country-tinged "Friend of the Devil," the bluesy "Me and My Uncle," and the tender "Ripple," each demonstrating the Dead's stylistic versatility. These tracks highlight the songwriting partnership of Garcia and Robert Hunter, along with contributions from Bob Weir and Phil Lesh.

This black vinyl LP pressing delivers the compilation with warmth and presence, allowing the acoustic textures and vocal harmonies to shine alongside the electric elements. The pressing captures the organic sound that made these recordings endure beyond their era. For fans looking to explore the Grateful Dead's catalog or revisit their studio achievements in a single package, this vinyl edition provides a solid foundation.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: "Uncle John's Band," "Truckin'," "Casey Jones"
• Pressing details: Standard weight vinyl pressing
• Genre/style: Rock, Country Rock, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock
• UPC: 603497847792

This compilation offers an accessible introduction to the Grateful Dead's studio legacy.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)
2. Truckin'
3. Rosemary
4. Sugar Magnolia
5. St. Stephen
6. Uncle John's Band

Side B:

1. Casey Jones
2. Mexicali Blues
3. Turn On Your Love Light
4. One More Saturday Night
5. Friend Of The Devil