As had become routine, Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia wrote the majority of the songs, with Bob Weir's contribution being the epic 'Weather Report Suite'. The new compositions drew on many of the band's influences, blending genres from country folk and R&B to ragtime and jazz rock, the latter being more prominent than previously. Referring to this period, bassist Phil Lesh explained, 'We'd learned to break in the material at shows (under fire, as it were), rather than try to work it out at rehearsals, or in the studio at tremendous expense.' At the time of recording, five of the songs on the album (and part of a 6th) had been in live rotation for up to a year and a half, as arrangements were road-tested and finalized. An expanded version was released in 2004.Īfter three (official) live albums in a row, the Grateful Dead wanted to record studio versions of songs written since Keith Godchaux had joined the band.

The release fared better on the pop charts than their previous studio album (1970's American Beauty), reaching No. 18. Godchaux's wife, backing vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, also joined the group and appears on the album. His absence and keyboardist Keith Godchaux's penchants for bebop and modal jazz (rather than McKernan's tendencies toward the blues and rhythm and blues) contributed to the band's musical evolution. Their first studio album in nearly three years, it was also the first without founding member Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, who had recently died. Released October 15, 1973, it was the first album on the band's own Grateful Dead Records label. Wake of the Flood is the sixth studio album (tenth overall) by rock band the Grateful Dead.

Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead Sarah's best chance of survival is buried in the rubble of what really happened at the close of WWII.History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice) An enemy she thought dead is back, seeking revenge, with plans to siphon power from pivotal moments in history in order to reshape the future.With history now the battlefield, time becomes the deadliest weapon of all. The man she loves is not who he claims to be. Barely escaping an attempt on her life, she plunges into an ancient war that threatens to topple the entire world order.Truth is a weapon both sides have wielded for millennia, and Sarah learns her life is built upon lies. The two groups have battled for dominance since the days of the Pharaohs.Most of the modern world knows nothing about them, but Sarah has seen the truth, and that knowledge makes her a target. Their bitter enemies steal the force of other souls to power superhuman enhancements. Near-immortal facetakers can shift between bodies at will.

Memory Hunter by Frank Morin