Ranking the Studio Albums: Grateful Dead 

Will watch it later. Saw them 37 times. 1987-1992. I miss the truly peaceful times.

I needed this list to figure out which ones were studio albums! The Spotify list is a mile long.

I was a casual Dead fan until about four years ago when I was tasked with playing Bob Weir’s guitar parts for a band I’m in. He’s a highly underrated guitarist (just listen to the classical prelude to Weather Report Suite). I discovered that he’s very prevalent in the Europe ‘72 mixes. Started delving into the box set of those shows and unlocked the door to the mystery of this music. The Dead are an amazing pastiche of American roots music. At different phases of their career, you may find them delving into folk, jazz, bluegrass, country, garage rock, psychedelia, blues, disco, pop, prog rock...they really are more than they appear at first glance. As far as the studio stuff, I’m partial to Mars Hotel (2 Phil songs!), Workingman’s, Go to Heaven, Blues for Allah. It’s tricky because if you appreciate each era, they all have something to offer.

"Wake Of The Flood" has been my favorite for decades.

“Anthem of the Sun” is my fave Dead!

I’m gonna have to check out the dead they have never been as popular here in England, but I am looking forward to giving them a go now after watching this .

Workingman’s Dead always has been my favorite

Pete, the two solo albums , Bob Weir's Ace & Jerry Garcia's Garcia are both excellent as well and contain many of their best tunes.

Thank you for Ranking the Studio Albums: The Grateful Dead.🎤🎸🎵🥁

American Beauty is just that. A beauty. First album of theirs I heard and it turned me onto them, so it holds a special place for me

I'm a hardcore Deadhead and my top five is almost exactly the same as yours, the only difference being that Terrapin is my #1 and Blues is my #2.

I’m not a Deadhead by any stretch of the imagination, but I do love “Working Man’s Dead” and “American Beauty”. I grew up listening to a lot of country, so that blend of country and blues rock really works for me.

I’ve been waiting for this episode

1. Blues for Allah 2. Anthem of the Sun 3. Workingman's Dead 4. Grateful Dead 5. American Beauty Guess I am partial to the Pigpen era. Also, Garcia's solo records Garcia, Reflections, and Cats Under the Stars you might enjoy, and also Ace by Bob Weir. Love your show

Hi Pete. Your knowledge and experience with music is phenomenal. I sometimes have different favorites to last favorites but I appreciate your opinions. I’m going to hear the Grateful Dead episode now. I wanted to comment first before watching it to say it’s commendable you’re doing their albums, period. I’m definitely interested in your takes on the albums. 👍🙂

Thank you very much, Pete Pardo. You do a great job. I always watch and I really like your videos. I'm a big fan of the Grateful Dead (it's my favorite band) My ranking of studio albums: 13 - Built To Last 12 - Go To Heaven 11 - Shakedown Street 10 - Terrapin Station 09 - In The Dark 08 - From Mars Hotel 07 - The Grateful Dead (1967) 06 - Wake Of The Flood 05 - Blues For Allah 04 - Anthem Of The Sun 03 - Workingman's Dead 02 - Aoxomoxoa 01 - American Beauty

Really dig your wide range of musical taste Pete. Thanks for all the hard work you put into the show. Peace from 🇨🇦

Thank you just for doing The Dead..Brokedown Palace on American Beauty is one of the most moving songs ...ever!!

I'm a huge Metal Head & Dead Head too. I own everything the GD put out on Vinyl and Cd. Saw Jerry live 40 times!

Hugh head so I would rank them 1- American Beauty 2- Workingman’s Dead 3- Terrapin Station 4- Blues For Allah 5- Wake of the Flood

Yesterday, September 1, "Blues For Allah", celebrated its 45th anniversary. My favorite is the "Wake Of The Flood".

That was a really cool video man! Thanks!

Anthem of the Sun is my favorite.

As ever, I enjoyed your thoughtful personal take. My ha'penny's worth... Studio albums: 1. Wake of the Flood 2. Blues For Allah 3. American Beauty 4. Mars Hotel 5. Workingman's Dead 6. In The Dark 7. Anthem of the Sun 8. Go to Heaven 9. Terrapin Station 10. Aoxomoxoa 11. Grateful Dead 12. Shakedown Street 13. Built to Last Live albums prior to the exquisite deluge of archival releases: 1. Live Dead 2. Reckoning 3. Europe 72 4. Skull & Roses 5. Without a Net 6. Dead Set 6. Steal Your Face 6. Bear's Choice

I just started listening to Grateful Dead. This was a good guide!

Always great landing in the Sea of Tranquility. Loved your ranking and analysis. I was born in '61 but I didn't really get into the dead until the early '90s. Can't get enough of them now. My favorites are Aoxomoxoa, Terrapin, Mars, Beauty and Anthem with the order constantly changing. Go to Heaven keeps climbing the rankings as my appreciation for Lost Sailor and Saint of Circumstance grows. ..What a great band!

And here I thought I was the only one with Blues on the top of my list! Great list, mines matches yours pretty well!

Between me and my GF, we have 258 shows (my one and 257 hers). She's the hardcore DeadHead, spending the '70's and some of the '80s following the Dead. The entire house is done in Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia, posters, bobbleheads, pillows and she had two drawers filled with GD concert shirts and one with GD panties and socks. so, yeah, Dead Head. The only room in the house that isn't GD is my music room where I keep my tuneage and guitars, it's filled with Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Buddy Guy etc. stuff, but she's eyeing it lately.... anyways 'Cornell Live '77' is the king of GD albums. But... 1.American Beauty - because 'Ripple' and 'Operator' (For Phil... the most underrated Bassist around) 2. Terrapin Station 3. Aoxomoxoa 4. Workingman's Dead 5. Blues for Allah 6. Wake of the Flood 7. Anthem of the Sun 8. Shakedown Street 9 From Mars Hotel 10. Grateful Dead 11. Go to Heaven 12. In the Dark 13. Built to Last

Hey Pete,Aoxomoxoa is my fav. Dead album,but all of their studio output is really damn good,very brillent stuff indeed!!!❤☺ .

People go on about how it's all about live shows with the Dead but I love their studio albums. Blues For Allah is my favorite Grateful Dead studio album.

Glad to see you ranking the GD albums. I bought Terrapin Station in 1977. Love it. Never heard Blues for Alah and had recently thought of buying it. Now I have to check it out. Never a huge fan but would like to have seen them at least once.

I've been a ridiculous deadhead since 1972. And I find your list close to perfect.

The 2 loudest pops I've ever heard from an audience were both during the St Patrick's Day 1991 Dead concert at the Capital Centre in Largo, MD. First was when they played the first ever Reuben and Cherise. The other was coming out of Trucking into New Speedway Boogie; which was played for only the second time since 1970.

So glad you did a Grateful Dead studio album ranking. I can't rank because I don't own them all but my favorite album is Mars Hotel.

Being a latecomer to the Dead, 1980 was my first live show, I have to mostly agree with your rankings. The Keith and Donna years are when most folks say they were at their best, Barton Hall at Cornell and all that. But i do like some of their 80' and 90's stuff, but you got it pretty well. Certainly better cover art on the earlier albums.

do not change the way you do things.......you are so good at it.

Great video! Thanks. I just did mine a little while ago, but I just went chronologically with everything I have. Ranking is hard for me, but I like watching others do it. Gonna sub after commenting. Love Shakedown Street.

I'm an Anthem Of The Sun guy, myself

I feel like I willed this video into existence. Thank you, Pete 💀⚡️🌹🐢

Hey Pete - The Dead made some faux pas in their catalog. Such as Bob Weir "Ace" is a Grateful Dead studio album. It would rank very high. Also on Europe '72 has 9 all time classic originals that they did not go into the studio with. That would also rank very high if you considered those nine tracks a studio album. In fact, 1972 belonged to The Grateful Dead. And painfully, Garcia released a solo album with canonical masterworks of the Grateful Dead. That being said, You the man!

I appreciate all bands but this one just never tickled my pickle. Great show again.

Thanks very much Pete, I really like the Grateful Dead, really enjoyed the show,

Hey Pete, thanks for the list. As a longtime Deadhead it’s always interesting to hear a non-head ranking of what they like about the Grateful Dead. I know you like prog and I’ve always thought that the Dead’s mid 70s output is some of the most underrated American prog that was made, your ranking reflects that and it’s all good. Thanks

I've been really getting into the Dead over the last month so I thought this was a recommended video!

Nothing compares to their outdoor West Coast concerts back in the day. Wake of the Flood is my favorite in their catalog.

I don't always agree with your choices, Pete, but I always respect them because I really enjoy listening to the reasons you choose the way you do.

Great video! Thanks for doing this one. Ranking their live stuff would definitely be a chore even for the biggest dead head but I would say my favorites are definitely Europe 72 and Skull and Roses

Thanks for this one Pete, I got into the Grateful Dead in late 90’s when a friend gave me a cassette of shakedown street. Bob is one of the greatest Rhythm players ever. 1 From Mars Hotel 2 Terrapin Station 3 AoxomoxoA 4 Working Mans Dead 5 American Beauty 6 Wake of the flood 7 Blues for Allah 8 In the Dark 9 Shakedown Street 10 Grateful Dead 11 Go to Heaven 12 Built to last

Hi Pete, I always wondered if you liked the Dead or not, I like them as well. Been finding myself listening to them quite a bit lately, especially the first five albums. I love the psychedelic Dead the best! As always Pete you rock and thanks for everything you do!

Hi Pete! Great show! I’m with you, I like the Dead but I’m not a “Deadhead”

My brother got me into the Dead by enticing me to go to their show and by molding my mind by giving me these little tiny microdots. I'm not a Deadhead by any stretch but I can tell you having seen them 16 times between 1976-1987 that if you don't really dig their albums, you'll be super impressed if you saw them live. My favorite Dead song is actually a Jerry Garcia band tune called Sugaree, which I unfortunately never saw them do live.

I’m about on your wavelength sir. I agree with pretty much your entire list

As a deadhead. I wanna give you massive props for taking on a task like this. I think your list is great. Thanks for the videos

Good on you, Pete! I agree with most of what you say.

I agree, different day, different order, but for today: 1. American Beauty 2. Workingman’s Dead 3. Terrapin Station 4. In The Dark 5. Shakedown Street 6.Wake Of The Flood 7. Aoxomoxoa 8. Go To Heaven 9. Mars Hotel 10. Blues For Allah 11. Anthem Of The Sun 12. Grateful Dead 13. Built To Last

Here’s my top 5 favorite albums by Grateful Dead (the last 3 can’t decide lol) 5. Aoxomoxoa (1969) 4. Workingman’s Dead (1970) 3. Anthem Of The Sun (1968) 2. From The Mars Hotel (1974) 1. American Beauty (1970)

Blues for Allah would be my top choice, too. It’s been in that spot since I first heard it. Mars Hotel would be my number two choice today.Those are the two I play the most. I really enjoy the spirit of Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty so I would rank at least one of those in my top 5. But the catalogue I have consists of Pete’s top 5 plus those two mentioned. Have never really been a Deadhead but I enjoy their music more than ever after all these years. Thanks for the show, Pete!

I could never understand the appeal of the Grateful Dead except their mascot! So I'm giving them a chance with this ranking of their albums because most the time I agree with Pete's opinion

Many thanks Pete! Always been curious about your grate take on my fave band. Listen every day for 31 years and about 1% comprised of studio as to me the vast majority of the songs couldn't find their footing until hit the stage. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right." 1: Workingman's Dead 2: American Beauty 3: Blues For Allah 4: Anthem Of The Sun (the "livest" of the studio albums) 5: Mars Hotel 6: Wake Of The Flood (which may be their strongest collection of songs but they sound rather flat and truncated on this release 7: Aoxomoxoa ("mixed for the hallucinations") 8: Terrapin Station.

Like Pete, I’ve always been a fan of hard rock and prog. But I remember playing in a band in high school in the 80s, covering the likes of Priest and Sabbath. The bassist’s buddy showed up one day with “Terrapin Station” (and the accompanying bag of green), and that main guitar lick just sucked me in. I’ve been a fan ever since. And although I disagree quite a bit with this album ranking, that’s what makes this band so provocative. They are so many things to so many people.

I’m a dead head and put a lot of thought into this list 1. Anthem of Sun 2. American Beauty 3. Grateful Dead 4. Blues for Allah 5. Terrapin Station 6. Workingman’s Dead 7. Aoxomoxoa 8. Wake of the Flood 9. From the Mars Hotel 10. Go to Heaven 11. Shakedown Street 12. In The Dark 13. Built to Last

Kind of a surprise with your number one and two. Love it

Pete, love the Grateful Dead. This idea may have been done and isn't "the music" but given the band featured here, I couldn't help but wonder about a possible video rankings on the bands with the best imagery or album covers/backs: Grateful Dead, Megadeth (Vic Rattlehead), etc.

Great job, Pete! I'm not a complete Deadhead, but I love the band and I definitely went through my own mini Deadhead phase when I was younger. I am in complete agreement about your top choices, and I especially love their proggy and jazzy stuff. I'm not as into their very early albums- in a way they are like the first couple of Pink Floyd LPs, in that the early psychedelia, at least for me, is unrefined and a little inaccessible.

Good morning Mr. Pardo; never been the greatest Grateful Dead fan; have several live albums; but i do like Blues for Allah and is one of my favorite Album covers, so thanks for the rankings. How about doing a Dream Theater Live Albums Ranking? Appreciate everything you do Pete to keep the music we love alive.😎🤙

That's a band i must listen to, never took the time so now i know where to begin. I hope i didn't offend anyone here.

Crazy Fingers is awesome. I have recordings of most of the 37 shows I went to. At least half. Kind of weird listening to them now. I went to my first show because someone at work needed a ride and I was bored. Never turned back.

Interesting choices. You seem to like the ones where they were playing in their most original styles. Good stuff.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank You! I know I kept bugging the shit out of you for months to do a ranking of the Grateful Dead's studio albums...and surprise! There it is! You did a good job on the rankings. My ranking is a little different: 1. American Beauty 2. The Grateful Dead (debut) 3. Terrapin Station 4. In the Dark 5. Blues for Allah 6. Anthem of the Sun 7. Go to Heaven 8. Shakedown Street 9. Workingman's Dead 10. Mars Hotel 11. Aoxomoxoa 12. Wake of the Flood 13. Built to Last On a side note: I know this is a live album but my first Grateful Dead show is on Dick's Picks Vol. 18 Disc 2 (Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI February 3, 1978).

My personal favorites would be 1) American Beauty. Wonderful album. Got it originally in vinyl. Still have that, but, also own it on CD. If you look at the cover, it can also be read as American Reality. 2) Workingman's Dead. Again, wonderful album. Vinyl and CD. 3) Wake of the Flood. 4) Blues for Allah. 5) Terrapin Station. Not going to rate the entire catalog, but, those are my top 5. I also have the Live/Dead album and while it's not a studio album, it does rank high among my Dead collection. Plus, I have around 200 live shows that I've gotten/traded for over the years. My favorite there is the 08-27-72 show that my wife and I went to back in the day. Probably has a lot to do with just why it's my favorite. But, for me, if it's by the Dead, it's all good. Well, except for Drumz/Space stull.

Good stuff, Pete. Great non-hardcore Deadhead perspective.

I love American Beauty and Working Man's Dead the most.

1. American Beauty 2. Workingman's Dead 3. Terrapin Station 4. Wake of the Flood 5. Blues For Allah True Favorite - Skull & Roses.

Terrapin Station is my favorite album by them. From top to bottom it is fantastic. The title track “Terrapin Station,” is my favorite Grateful dead tune of all time.

My favorite Pig is Workingmans, my favourite Kieth is Mars and my favorite Brent is Go to Heaven. Had the joy of seeing them 20 + times between 85 and 91 and JGB maybe 5 or 6 times from 87-89 i think. Saw them when they toured with Dylan but never caught a New years show. Some of the best times of my life really. Took me close to 20 years after loosing Papa Bear to even be able to listen to them without completely breaking down, but as they say, time heals all wounds.

1. Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead (1967) 2. Workingman's Dead 3. American Beauty 4. From the Mars Hotel 5. Terrapin Station

Great show love the ranking the albums episodes. The older I get the more I like the Dead LoL. Blues for Allah is I’m sure a radical number one pick for Dead heads (like you I’m not one) but I really love that album listen to it more than any other Dead album. Good choice 👍

Pretty fair assessment. I enjoyed that

You look like you could be Phil Lesh's son!

Growing up in Texas the Dead were not that big with us kids...but as I got older I can appreciate their music much more.

Hold the Mars Hotel album upside down in a mirror and it spells "Ugly Rumors".

Mega props! Wouldn't have thought the Grateful Dead was on your radar. And 'Blues for Allah,' their most bluesy, jazzy, complicated landscapes? Couldn't agree more with your picks. There seem to be two rock universes: one in which the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane / Starship, Spirit, the Doors etc. exist and one in which they don't. Thank you for straddling those two magical worlds.

as a deadhead who enjoys and respects your musical preferences I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out!

For me its 1. Terrapin, 2. American Beauty, 3. Axomoxoa, 4. In the Dark, 5. Shakedown Street. Love your lists man, keep em coming!

Great video Pete. I don’t mind some Dead, but I’m not a Deadhead. Very enjoyable video.

live from the Mars hotel unbroken chain long as you get past that sounding of what I called it back in the USSR finish into Dear Prudence of The White Album buzzing sound that recurs throughout it it's a fantastic Phil lesh song.

One of the best Californian bands of all time and so underrated.Aoxomoxoa, American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, Skull and Roses are my favorite.

As a minor Deadhead, I loved this ranking. And your ranking is exactly what I would have done. Although, there are months where AMERICAN BEAUTY is number one. I find, with the Grateful Dead, that it depends upon my emotions and mood.

I think Dark Star is my favorite song. Was that released only as a single? Also since they have so many live albums where should I start?

As someone who listens to them daily, I really liked your list. The specific rankings to me are somewhat irrelevant, I appreciate the commentary you gave to the music. I do think Bobby has a Bit of a Prog Rock side to some with his longer efforts like Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance, Weather Repot, Lazy Lightening/ Supplication. My favorite studio album would be Wake of the Flood based upon the long-standing live songs to come out of it. For live eras, the Billy only era of ‘71-‘74 are great and the late ‘80’s resurgence has a lot to offer with many songs well developed.

Holy Crap, It Took Me Forever To Get Into This Band! Anyways, My Top 13 Dead Albums. 13. In the Dark 12. Built to Last 11. Go to Heaven 10. Shakedown Street 9. Aoxomoxoa 8. From the Mars Hotel 7. The Grateful Dead 1967 6. Terrapin Station 5. Anthem of the Sun 4. American Beauty 3. Blues for Allah 2. Wake of the Flood 1. Workingman's Dead I wouldn't call Myself a Deadhead, but the Dead is Great!

Terrapin Station changed my life. It opened me up to so many different kinds of music.

the first album is my favorite, They were tight as hell on that record

Loved their early studio stuff. My favourites are probably Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa and Workingman's Dead.

I have a top 6 studio ranking, and I think these are the best Dead albums by a distance. 1. American Beauty 2. Aoxamoxoa 3. Anthem of the Sun 4. Terrapin Station 5. Blues for Allah 6. Workingman Dead Different styles for different eras for the band, but I think thats what makes them so interesting. My order can also shift but I think those are the 6 best studio albums they made. I don’t own them all but I have heard them all. I have Live Dead 69 as well, and its a great testament to their sound at that time with Pig Pen in the band.

Don't forget to check out their first live album titled LIVEDEAD. That would be the album cover with the babe rising out of a wooden casket.

Although the Dead were definitely at their best in a live setting, I still really dig their studio material. Here’s my top nine: 1. Blues For Allah 2. Terrapin Station 3. Anthem Of The Sun 4. Aoxomoxoa 5. Wake Of The Flood 6. The Grateful Dead / self-titled 7. From The Mars Hotel 8. American Beauty 9. Workingman’s Dead

What does China Cat Sunflower, Doing the Rag, St. Stephen, Rosemary and Cosmic Charlie spell? AOXOMOXOA

My top pick is Anthem because it was very ambitious for the time. Mixing studio and live stuff together sounds unorthodox on paper (ands some could argue on the album too) but I absolutely loved what they did on the album. It's weird and wacky while taking you on a trip through "thick air" and beyond. But just below Anthem, and I mean barely below, is in fact Blues for Allah. 10/10 album for me. Help/Slip always gets me up and dancing, King Solomon is just a phenomenal instrumental, Crazy Fingers has a nice reggae feel to it which I enjoy, and the title track ender calms you down and gives a nice wrap up of the album. I can totally see why Terrapin Station ranks so high for you with your love for Prog rock.It's a nice breath of fresh air seeing a studio dead list without having AB in the top 3. Solid list through and through!

Europe '72: The Complete Recordings does it for me. Favorite tour by far!