The 1970 line up of The Grateful Dead.
Six months ago, if you told me that I’d be a Dead fan on any level, I’d have thought you were crazy, but a friend of mine suggested that I might like their American Beauty album. I was skeptical, but once I found a used copy of the LP for $5.00, I really had no excuse to not check it out. Turns out he was right, I love it and it’s been in heavy rotation. I hope to get their other 1970 album, Workingman’s Dead, soon. I just hope that it’s good.
chained and perfumed 
I’m confident you will enjoy “Workingman’s Dead” as well.
Add the first Garcia solo lp (collage cover featuring hand with abbreviated digit – Garcia’s) and you’ve got not only their melodic triumphs but the only 3 well-recorded records they made. Also, the 3 best album covers.
I’ll pick those up as soon as I next hit the used store. Thanks, guys!
Also, I was thumbing through (what seems to be) their distressingly wildly uneven catalog on the wikipedia the other night and I couldn’t believe the large gaps in between studio albums which would be filled with live album after live album.
I guess that whole deadhead following bought those live albums up. I suspect that they are not for me.
Dire Wolf is a great song on Workingman’s Dead.
Workingmans’s Dead is great,. Jerry sings harmonies with himself and plays a little banjo.
The one I always recommend is the first live album, LIVE/DEAD 1969. It’s more the classic, dark psychedelic sound.
These three albums stand apart from the rest.
Enjoy.
I bought Workingman’s Dead last weekend. It’s great but I think I still prefer American Beauty. Generally speaking, I don’t really care for live albums but I’m willing to give that one a try. I’d imagine that I could pick up a used copy of the LP on the cheap. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.