A Look at The Grateful Dead's Discography

Hello 1967 and the Dead's debut album. Although we're knee deep in the flower power age of the hippies, this cover looks like some kids in the early stages of mastering photo shop.  An explosion, a strange monster statue, and grinning potheads, this is going to be a long journey.

One year later album two drops and the madness truly begins. A tripy blue adventure where the band members become snake heads of some kind of Hindu Bhagavad Gita creature.

Year 3, album 3. The Dead's famous imagery is born here with strange guitar trees, pipe smoke, and a funky font to boot. Look how happy that skull and cross bones is on the album, hiding his blood shot eyes with sunglasses and sporting a giggly smile.

WTF, the 70's begin and apparently the Dead have given up their free loving, pots smoking ways to get real jobs. Didn't see this one coming so early in the jam band's career but hey I sympathize, all those pipes and tie dye shirts can't be cheap.

The work is paying off boys, look at this awesome engraving they band was able to get on their front door. Nearly impossible for me to read either the band's name or the album's, but I like the centered rose. Keep on trucking.

The drugs seem to be back, more roses, and really advertising the "dead" aspect in the group's name for this second double live album.

Jesus, who puts out a triple live album? Some fucking hobo is tripping balls listening to this album and imagining himself walking under a rainbow and into the world. Walking under a ladder = bad luck, while walking under a rainbow apparently equals everything turning fucking golden.

Over the rainbow and back to what I expect from the dead on their bizzar as this live album also counts as a studio album. A patriotic swirl and new we see the skull has a strange tattoo on the top of his head. 1973 was a strange time.

Also released in 1973, you may be wondering: is this a Grateful Dead album cover or an advertisement for bread. I dunno if they're too stoned to keep a consistent theme of trippy artwork or if they sober up now and than and just have fucking stupid ideas. Either way we do know one thing, bread is fucking awesome. Go Wheat!

Of course after I'm done filling up on some delicious bread I often dream of finally taking that vacation to outer space and staying at the famous Mars Hote.......I don't know what the fuck is going on with this band, hotel on mars really, as far as I can tell none of the songs even deal with outer space lodging. After the release of this album the band went on hiatus.

Well that was a short hiatus, lasting only a year but luckily the band came back with their best album cover ever. On Blues for Allah, the Dead's skeleton dude is back and this time he has a body, a violin, cooler sun glasses, and hair to cover is crazy skull tattoo. Almost looks like and album released by Iron Maiden. Rock on Jerry.

Hmmmm....Definately not as good as their last album, but I'll be honest. I like turtles. I like banjos. I have nothing against train stations. Rock on Jerry.

Ya this is another album that has pretty decent artwork but just doesn't feel like something from the Dead. Can you really picture this scene on a tye dye t-shirt. If I was just shown this picture I'd think more along the lines of Grand Theft Auto 1978 than a jam band album.

After the 1970s Grateful Dead died, and supposedly went to heaven. It's been a long time since we've seen the actual band on an album cover,and it looks very much like a Bee Gees record.

After going to Heaven on their last album, it appears that Jerry and friends are now down visiting Hell. Album cover really sucks actually, bring back those delightful dancing turtles everyone loves.

It sounds good on paper, but this is one of the most hated albums of all time. Maybe they should have put more Grateful Dead songs on the album.

After a tour of Hell and an album with Dylan, the Dead are back with their final studio album circa 1989. The end of the Dead, the 80s, and soon of Jerry himself, one would thing this album title was a big ironic, but really the dead were built to last as they are still loved and listened to by millions of loyal Deadheads.