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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Who says discipline is a bad thing? No one who's heard American Beauty, the Dead's greatest studio achievement. Showcasing 10 concise, country-rooted gems that sound equally good whether you're hanging on the front porch in the afternoon or nursing a bottle after hours, this one could win over many an anti-Jerry. Bewildered by loss both personal and social--the hippie dream was quickly crashing by Beauty's 1970 release date--the band put its querulousness ("Box of Rain") and wry humor ("Truckin'") into the service of a masterwork. The most impressive cut of all may be "Ripple," Garcia's spiritual credo. --Rickey Wright
Product Description
Six extra tracks including one of the few live performances of Till the Morning Comes !
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
101 of 105 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Grateful Dead's first four albums earned them the reputation of being another jam-oriented, hippy-trippy band from San Francisco. But their two classic albums from 1970--WORKINGMAN'S DEAD and AMERICAN BEAUTY--showcased their strong songwriting talents and their country, folk and bluegrass roots. The album prominently features Garcia's pedal steel playing--there is not a single Garcia guitar solo to be found anywhere!--and friend David Grisman adds mandolin on "Friend of the Devil" and "Ripple." Songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "Friend of the Devil" and "Truckin'" became permanent fixtures in their live shows.
This HDCD remastered edition by Rhino is the same one that was included as part of the 2001 box set THE GOLDEN ROAD. As such it is packed with with nearly forty minutes of bonus material, including the single version of "Truckin'" (which peaked at No. 64, making it the highest charting single of their career until "Touch of Grey" went Top 10 in 1987), as well as five live songs from various concerts from 1970: "Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," "Till the Morning Comes," "Attics of My Life" and "Truckin'." There are also two hidden tracks: a live version of "Ripple" and a hilarious 60-second radio spot promoting the Dead's then new album, which encourages listeners to buy the record and "make their duck a grateful duck."
This HDCD remastered edition by Rhino is the same one that was included as part of the 2001 box set THE GOLDEN ROAD. As such it is packed with with nearly forty minutes of bonus material, including the single version of "Truckin'" (which peaked at No. 64, making it the highest charting single of their career until "Touch of Grey" went Top 10 in 1987), as well as five live songs from various concerts from 1970: "Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," "Till the Morning Comes," "Attics of My Life" and "Truckin'." There are also two hidden tracks: a live version of "Ripple" and a hilarious 60-second radio spot promoting the Dead's then new album, which encourages listeners to buy the record and "make their duck a grateful duck."
In addition, there are some terrific photos included with the 16-page booklet along with an essay by Deadhead David Gans, who wrote last year's "Conversations with the Dead: The Grateful Dead Interview Book.
... Read more ›56 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Now that the Dead are no more (at least the Jerry Garcia version of the Dead), I don't know how often new people are getting turned on to the music. The fun of it, of course, was always to go to a live show, where you had a one in three chance of seeing phenomenal group improvisational musicianship. Even on the off nights, you would listen to a lot of lazy, mediocre jamming but would still probably experience one of those unique transcendental moments at some point, probably late in the second set.
Like most young people, my biases towards bands and music scenes was the product of who I was hanging out with at that point in my life. In High School, I made fun of deadheads. But when I got to college, many of my good friends were into the music or getting into it. With my first shows coming up, I wanted to appreciate the experience. My hirsute, stoner dorm-neighbor Brad (17 years old like the rest of us but he had been growing a beard for several years and was able to buy 3.2 beer at the 7-11) handed me this CD and told me this was the best starter Dead. I listened and liked it. Once I had been to several shows and really appreciated the magic of the scene, I felt that studio Grateful Dead was missing the point. The beauty of the band was that these guys had jammed together so much that they communicated together through their music and had a real chemistry. I've enjoyed many of the newer jambands, but with many of them, Phish being an obvious example, while they can engage in hard-core energetic jamming, the musicians are often stepping on each other's toes. It's often Four-Guys-Jamming, not One-Band-Jamming.... Read more ›
Like most young people, my biases towards bands and music scenes was the product of who I was hanging out with at that point in my life. In High School, I made fun of deadheads. But when I got to college, many of my good friends were into the music or getting into it. With my first shows coming up, I wanted to appreciate the experience. My hirsute, stoner dorm-neighbor Brad (17 years old like the rest of us but he had been growing a beard for several years and was able to buy 3.2 beer at the 7-11) handed me this CD and told me this was the best starter Dead. I listened and liked it. Once I had been to several shows and really appreciated the magic of the scene, I felt that studio Grateful Dead was missing the point. The beauty of the band was that these guys had jammed together so much that they communicated together through their music and had a real chemistry. I've enjoyed many of the newer jambands, but with many of them, Phish being an obvious example, while they can engage in hard-core energetic jamming, the musicians are often stepping on each other's toes. It's often Four-Guys-Jamming, not One-Band-Jamming.... Read more ›
42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By C. Burgess
Format:Audio CD
I would venture to guess that more people were lured into the magical, maniacal world of the Grateful Dead through American Beauty than any other way. More times than I can count, I've seen a non-Deadhead listen to this album, be blown away, and slowly join the rest of us in our nirvana. American Beauty features lyrical, complex songs and straight-forward American Folk music. "Ripple" may be the most beautiful song ever written. "Box of Rain" is funny and poignant. And I dare you not to break into a huge grin during "Sugar Magnolia." While this is a much different Grateful Dead from what you saw in concert, it is equally glorious.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Doesn't everybody already own this album? I'm an old Deadhead - so you can calibrate my remarks. This is the best place to start in learning about the GD. If you had to own to just one GD album, this would be it. Box of Rain, Attics of My Life, Brokedown Palace, Ripple - all beautiful poetry in their own right. Hunter-Garcia, what a KNOCKOUT combination! Cherish well Jerry's voice here - as his singing voice declined markedly in his later years. What a burst of creativity American Beauty is. Buy this one, then go listen to some of their live albums - Live Dead, the "Skull & Roses" album, or Europe 72, and you'll get a glimpse of what it was all about.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I always feared having to write a review of this album, but I guess I can accept it as a challenge, and attempt the impossible. For truly, how could one review something like a part of their lives, a place where they lived, or a transitioning period? To me the album brings on smells, tastes, and visions from all three of those stages.
Objectively, American Beauty has its flaws. The songs were done in the studio, something the band never looked forward to, and a little bittle of evolution, well, took some of these songs a long way. Look at Sugar Magnolia and Truckin' for instance, two of the bands most famous works, they never became great songs until they played them live, let them evolve, unfold, and bloom. Any experienced listener would take a live Truckin' or Sugar Magnolia over the studio versions anyday. But that doesn't really matter, because what the rest of the album has to offer is probably the best of what folk and rock music have to offer....
Box of Rain, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Candyman, Friend of the Devil, and Attics of My Life.
Of all the jazz, classical music, folk & roots music, and world & ethnic music I have ever listened to, I still have not found songs which parallel these in their strength and grandeur. These are'nt merely songs, these are moments, these are Zen watercolor paintings, and they are the most sincere, and human pieces of art that I have ever come to know.
Coming to know these songs was like developing a new sense for me. It was like seeing, or smelling, or hearing for the first time, when the buddha sprang from beneath the bodhi tree he must have felt similar. I truly envy you if you have never listened to these songs, I would pay astronomical amounts of money to hear these songs again for the first time.
... Read more ›Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
American Beauty on vinyl
Not really known for there studio work, this is their best effort. Full of there hits, it's a must own for any dead heads.
Published 1 month ago by runawayjim527
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is Truly Surround Sound!
The producer puts you right in the middle of the band! At first it seemed a bit strange as often the primary melody comes through the rear speakers! Read more
Published 1 month ago by GW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Although not a dead head I've always loved this album
Oops. It's no longer an album I used to own, it's a CD and a remix and all that new fangled stuff. They think more is better, but I would have been happy with the original stuff as... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Doctor Gail
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album
Love this album and all the songs that I love on it I already know. Great album with a ton of great songs.
Published 2 months ago by Gena Worrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dead's Best
This album is a classic and was a big change for the Grateful Dead. Their previous albums had been jam oriented, this one showcases the songs. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Savonarola
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING!
One of the best albums ive ever heard (: Love the Grateful Dead, American Beauty is a truly great album.
Published 2 months ago by Desire Colio
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great album made even better!!!
This is my favorite Dead studio album, and they have added some great additions. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.
Published 3 months ago by IHSV
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Music !
There is a reason why this group made such great music.... they were awesome musicians! I play the piano and purchased the sheet music for their work. Read more
Published 3 months ago by ridemaster-v
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Disc!
All that I have to say is if you like the Dead, you will like this disc. Gotta love the Dead!
Published 3 months ago by Stephen Roy Simonds
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best record ever made
expanded or remastered, this is the best record of all time
from the GD, hands down bar none the band was cooking on all burners for this
from the GD, hands down bar none the band was cooking on all burners for this
Published 3 months ago by Paul T. Hamilton
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