A Nice Pair: The Grateful Dead

It’s Sunday and it’s time for A Nice Pair – books and vinyl that go together like Daylight Savings Time and a few extra swats at the snooze button. Today we’re pairing the book All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows by Ray Robertson with the Grateful Dead album American Beauty.

All the Years Combine is a deep dive into the Grateful Dead’s legacy through fifty of their most memorable concerts. Robertson captures the essence of the band’s evolution, from their early days to their final performances, highlighting the unique elements of each show.

We’re pairing it with one of their most prolific and influential albums, American Beauty. Originally released in 1970, it features some of their most iconic songs, including Truckin’, Sugar Magnolia and Friend of the Devil. It’s widely regarded as one of their best studio albums and a cornerstone of their musical legacy.