Classic Albums - Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty (1997)

The versatility of the Grateful Dead is immediately evident in this installment of the CLASSIC ALBUMS series, which covers two vastly different Dead releases from the band's early days. Released in 1968, the experimental ANTHEM TO THE SUN became an instant classic with the extended jams and acid trip soundscapes of the five tracks that comprise this landmark document of the Haight-Ashbury scene. AMERICAN BEAUTY, released only two years later, could not have been more different. Rooted in country music, the understated album featured melodic radio hits such as "Truckin'," "Friend of the Devil," "Sugar Magnolia," and "Ripple." This CLASSIC ALBUMS release includes rare archival footage and interviews conducted in 1997 with David Grisman, Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter, and others as they recall these legendary recording sessions, plus Grateful Dead TV appearances and home videos by the band.