Album of the Day

Despite what you might conclude from the cover art, the Grateful Dead haven't gone disco on GO TO HEAVEN. While the choice of Gary Lyons (Foreigner, Aerosmith) to produce surely reflects Arista Records' desire for a commercial hit, the Dead again deliver road-tested, roots-infused jam rock as only they can. Highlights include “Alabama Getaway,” “Saint of Circumstance,” “Althea” and the traditional “Don't Ease Me In,” a staple of the group's repertoire going back to their Warlocks days. Released 40 years ago, the collection was the first with keyboardist-singer-songwriter Brent Mydland, who introduced synthesizers to the Dead's sound and would remain with them throughout the 1980s. “If you go back and (re)listen to it, you’ll find that time has been very kind to GO TO HEAVEN,” reflects drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and we're in total agreement.