Workingman's Dead (Bonus Tracks)

Album Review

The Grateful Dead were already established as paragons of the free-form, improvisational San Francisco psychedelic sound when they abruptly shifted gears for the acoustic Workingman's Dead, a lovely exploration of American roots music illuminating the group's country, blues, and folk influences. The lilting "Uncle John's Band," their first radio hit, opens the record and perfectly summarizes its subtle, spare beauty; complete with a new focus on more concise songs and tighter arrangements, the approach works brilliantly. Despite its sharp contrast to the epic live space jams on which the group's legend primarily rests, Workingman's Dead nonetheless spotlights the Dead at their most engaging, stripped of all excess to reveal the true essence of their craft. [The 2003 reissue on Rhino contains expanded liner notes with lots of photos. It also includes a previously unissued alternate mix of "New Speedway Boogie" and six live tracks: "Dire Wolf" recorded at Santa Rosa Veteran's Memorial Hall on 6/27/1969, "Black Peter" recorded at Golden Hall Community Concourse in San Diego on 1/10/1970, "Easy Wind" recorded at Springer's Ballroom in Portland, OR, on 1/16/1970, "Cumberland Blues" recorded at the Oregon State University Gym on 1/17/1970, "Mason's Children" recorded at the Civic Auditorium in Honolulu on 1/24/1970, and "Uncle John's Band" recorded at Winterland on 12/23/1970.]