American Beauty

Another seminal masterpiece, the 1970 classic featuring many of the Dead's best-known songs - "Sugar Magnolia" and "Friend Of The Devil" among others - now has 6 extra tracks, including the single version of "Truckin'", the first electric recording of "Candyman," and one of the few live performances of "Till The Morning Comes."

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