#409 Grateful Dead, 'Workingman’s Dead' (1970)

Previously #264

On their fourth album, Grateful Dead, a band famous for their extended psychedelic jam sessions, completely changed direction. It takes 4 songs for the first appearance of electric guitar and 5 songs before we hear a guitar solo. In fact, there’s only 2 guitar solos on the entire album. What sets this record apart is the vocal harmonies, inspired by their friendship with Crosby, Stills & Nash, who had released their debut album just a year before.

‘Easy Wind’ is the most Grateful Dead song on the record, but the real winner is ‘Casey Jones.’ “Driving that train, high on cocaine/Casey Jones you better watch your speed/Trouble ahead, trouble behind/And you know that notion just crossed my mind”

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