Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 10/05/2005

Skeletons from the Closet has been long-lived as a Grateful Dead primer, though it was superseded by The Very Best of the Grateful Dead in 2003. Fans of the band's live show have noted that Skeletons only contains two live tracks from a band whose live shows are its strongest suit. Still, Skeletons remains a good introduction to the band's early -- and arguably best -- work, and is also a great disc for the casual fan. Favorites include "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia," "Friend of the Devil," and "Casey Jones," classic tracks taken from 1970's Workingman's Dead and American Beauty. The disc also includes a couple of early Bob Weir jewels, "Mexicali Blues" and "One More Saturday Night," and an edited version of "Turn on Your Love Light" by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. The disc offers several selections from the Dead's early albums, including "The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)," "St. Stephen," and "Rosemary." The tracking order of the songs isn't always chronological but it does have a natural flow, with the possible exception of the high-powered "Love Light." While most new fans will opt for The Very Best of the Grateful Dead, Skeletons -- for longtime fans -- will always be a great disc for a lazy Sunday afternoon. [Aside from a revised cover, the 2004 Rhino edition is unchanged from the 1988 Warner Bros. CD release.]

~Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

Be the first to review this product!

Grateful Dead - Producer
Stephen Barncard - Producer
Dick Bogert - Engineer
Joe Gastwirt - Digital Remastering
David Hassinger - Producer
Bob Matthews - Producer
John Van Hamersveld - Artwork
Betty Cantor - Producer
Betty Cantor - Editing

The Beatles Box Set [1992]
    The Beatles / CD / 1992
Euphoria
    Leftover Salmon / CD / 1997
After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80
    Jerry Garcia Band / CD / 2004
Listen My Friends! The Best of Moby Grape
    Moby Grape / CD / 2007

Release Date: 10/05/2005
Genre: rock