The Album Club choice for October, 2015 comes courtesy of Richard (RichB), with a classic piece of Americana - the Greatful Dead's 'American Beauty'. As always please listen to the album in its entirety before you vote.
Greatful Dead - 'American Beauty'
OK so here's my choice for October. It seems to me a lot of we British don't really get the Grateful Dead and they're a band I've only recently come to appreciate in the last few years myself having been exposed to their music on visits across the pond where they still maintain a huge cult following.
'American Beauty' and it's predecessor 'Workingman's Dead' is probably the Dead at their most accessible, an easy blend of bluegrass, folk and country rock which recalls hazy afternoons spent in California and Baja for me where I first discovered this music. The musicianship on show here is first rate with Sugar Magnolias, Ripple and Truckin being particular standouts for me.
From what I understand this album was the beginning of Jerry Garcia's collaboration with mandolinist David Grisman who play off one another so beautifully and whose work together you'll enjoy if you like this.
Being a deadhead at this late stage in the ever changing game is something of a labour of love for me, and expensive too, but as an introduction to the band I don't think you can go wrong with this. A classic slice of early 70s Americana which I hope you'll all enjoy.
http://open.spotify.com/album/2UDDZVesmQwA4aYfa55diS