GRATEFUL DEAD - AMERICAN BEAUTY 12" LP Vinyl Album

- USA Release with Green Record Label

The Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" is a folk-rock masterpiece released in 1970. Building on "Workingman's Dead," it features Garcia and Hunter's songwriting with lyrics rich in beauty. Standouts include "Box of Rain" and "Sugar Magnolia." The original US pressing with a green label is a collector's item. This album remains a touchstone, showcasing the Dead's musical brilliance.

 

Front Cover Photo Of GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty

"American Beauty" Album Description:

The Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" is a landmark album, a cornerstone of their discography, and a beloved classic among music fans. Released in November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records, it was the band's fifth studio album and marked a continuation of their exploration into folk rock and country music themes, following the critically acclaimed "Workingman's Dead."

Studio Work and Lyrical Beauty

Recorded between August and September 1970, "American Beauty" showcased a collaborative effort between the band's songwriting talents. While Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter are credited on most of the tracks, lyricist Robert Hunter's contributions are particularly noteworthy. Hunter's poetic and evocative lyrics imbued the album with a richness that resonated with listeners.

Track Listing and Legacy

The ten-song tracklist of "American Beauty" is a collection of the Grateful Dead's finest work. From the melancholic beauty of "Box of Rain" to the foot-stomping singalong joy of "Sugar Magnolia," the album takes the listener on a journey through a variety of emotions and musical styles. Other standouts include the psychedelic rock of "Candyman," the introspective ballad "Brokedown Palace," and the hopeful optimism of "Ripple."

A Collectible Treasure

The original US pressing of "American Beauty" on Warner Bros. Records featured a green label, making it a prized possession for vinyl record collectors. The folk-tinged melodies, Garcia's soaring vocals, and the tight musicianship of the band all contribute to the album's enduring legacy.

Watch the official "Ripple" video:

Music Genre:

American Folk Country Rock 

Album Production Information:

The album: "American Beauty" by Grateful Dead was produced by: Grateful Dead Stephen Barncard

This album was recorded at: Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco

Album cover design: Kelly Mouse, Studio

Album cover photography: George Conger

Record Label & Catalognr:

Warner Bros Records WS 1893

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram 

Year & Country:

1970 Made in USA
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Jerry Garcia – guitar; pedal steel guitar on "Sugar Magnolia", "Candyman", and "Brokedown Palace"; piano on "Box of Rain"; vocals

    Jerry Garcia (Full-name: Jerome John Garcia) was born on 1 August 1942, in San Francisco, California. He began playing the guitar at the age of 15 and was heavily influenced by bluegrass and folk music. In 1965, he co-founded the Grateful Dead with fellow musician Bob Weir. The band quickly gained a following for their unique blend of rock, folk, blues, and country music, and became known for their improvisational live performances.

    more...

    Throughout his career, Garcia also released several solo albums and collaborated with other musicians, including the Jerry Garcia Band and the Garcia/Grisman acoustic duo. He was also a member of the supergroup the Other Ones, which formed in 1998 after the Grateful Dead disbanded following Garcia's death.

    Garcia struggled with drug addiction throughout his life, which ultimately contributed to his death on August 9, 1995. He died of a heart attack in a drug rehab facility in Forest Knolls, California. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century and his contributions to the Grateful Dead's music continue to be celebrated by fans around the world.

  • Mickey Hart – percussion
  • Robert Hunter – lyricist
  • Phil Lesh – bass guitar, acoustic guitar on "Box of Rain", piano, vocals, lead on "Box of Rain"
  • Bill Kreutzmann – drums
  • Ron "Pigpen" McKernan – harmonica, vocals on "Operator"
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals, lead on "Sugar Magnolia" and "Trucking"
Complete Track-listing of the album "American Beauty" by Grateful Dead

The detailed tracklist of this record "GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty" is:

    Track-listing :
  1. "Box of Rain" (Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh) – 5:18
  2. "Friend of the Devil" (Jerry Garcia, John Dawson, Hunter) – 3:24
  3. "Sugar Magnolia" (Bob Weir, Hunter) – 3:19
  4. "Operator" (Ron McKernan) – 2:25
  5. "Candyman" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:14
  6. "Ripple" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:09
  7. "Brokedown Palace" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:09
  8. "Till the Morning Comes" (Garcia, Hunter) – 3:08
  9. "Attics of My Life" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:12
  10. "Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 5:03

GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty
Front Cover Photo Of GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty

 

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

Photo Of The Back Cover GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty
Photo of album back cover GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty

 

Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty
Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty

 

Close up of record's label GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty Side One:
Close up of record's label GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty Side One

Record Label Details: Warner Bros. Records ( Green Coloured Label ) WS 1893 Made in U.S.A.

GRATEFUL DEAD - Selected Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery
GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty (German and USA Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
GRATEFUL DEAD - American Beauty (German and USA Releases) album front cover vinyl record

Recorded between August and September 1970, "American Beauty" showcased a collaborative effort between the band's songwriting talents. While Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter are credited on most of the tracks

- American Beauty (German Release) - American Beauty (USA Release)
GRATEFUL DEAD - Aoxomoxoa
GRATEFUL DEAD - Aoxomoxoa album front cover vinyl record

The name "Aoxomoxoa" is derived from a word play created by the Grateful Dead's lyricist, Robert Hunter. It does not have a specific meaning but was intended to be a whimsical and cryptic word.

Aoxomoxoa 12" Vinyl LP
GREATFULL DEAD (Grateful Dead) - Dark Star / Dont Ease Me In
GREATFULL DEAD (Grateful Dead) - Dark Star / Dont Ease Me In album front cover vinyl record

Dark Star (Glastonbury Fayre): The centerpiece here is the legendary "Dark Star," a song notorious for its improvisational jams. However, there's a snag. The Grateful Dead never played Glastonbury Fayre in 1971

Dark Star / Dont Ease Me In 12" Vinyl Maxi
GRATEFUL DEAD - Self-Titled aka Skull and Roses
GRATEFUL DEAD - Self-Titled aka Skull and Roses album front cover vinyl record

This 2LP vinyl release isn't your typical studio album. It's a portal to the heart of the Grateful Dead's live experience. Recorded throughout 1971, it captures the band at a peak.

Self-Titled aka Skull and Roses 12" Vinyl 2LP
GRATEFUL DEAD - Vintage Dead
GRATEFUL DEAD - Vintage Dead album front cover vinyl record

While not officially sanctioned by the Grateful Dead themselves, "Vintage Dead" holds a special place in their history. Recorded without the band's involvement, it falls under the category of a legal release rather than a bootleg.

Vintage Dead 12" Vinyl LP
GRATEFUL DEAD - Wake of the Flood
GRATEFUL DEAD - Wake of the Flood album front cover vinyl record

Through their relentless touring and experimentation, the band cultivated a dedicated fan base known as the "Deadheads". "Wake of the Flood" was their first album on their independent label, Grateful Dead Records

Wake of the Flood 12" Vinyl LP
GRATEFUL DEAD - The Grateful Dead
GRATEFUL DEAD - The Grateful Dead album front cover vinyl record

While "The Grateful Dead" doesn't feature any of the band's signature long-form jams that would define their later career, it lays the groundwork for their improvisational exploration.

The Grateful Dead 12" Vinyl LP
GRATEFUL DEAD - Workingman's Dead
GRATEFUL DEAD - Workingman's Dead album front cover vinyl record

Workingman's Dead marked a shift for the Dead. It moved away from the heavier psychedelia of their earlier work towards a more rootsy sound, featuring songs like "Uncle John's Band" and "High Time" that have become fan favorites.

Workingman's Dead 12" Vinyl LP