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Anthem of the Sun

by Grateful Dead

Released: July 18, 1968

Acid rock, sound collage, Psychedelic rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

This experimental approach resulted in an album that blends both live and studio elements, incorporating a range of instruments such as prepared piano, kazoo, harpsichord, timpani, trumpet, and güiro. "Anthem of the Sun" is the second studio album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1968 by Warner Bros/Seven Arts. The album was uniquely crafted using a collage-like technique, with Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh, along with soundman Dan Healy, splicing together various studio and live recordings.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This album marks the first appearance of drummer…

This album marks the first appearance of drummer Mickey Hart and features contributions from Tom Constanten, who introduced avant-garde elements influenced by composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Anthem of the Sun has been recognized in…

Anthem of the Sun has been recognized in music history, ranking 288 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in both 2003 and 2012, and it was also voted number 376 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.

A 2018 reissue by Rhino Records includes both…

A 2018 reissue by Rhino Records includes both the original and the alternate mixes.

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Explore the Album

Grateful Dead - Anthem of the Sun

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Then

Reception

In 1972, a more commercially appealing alternate mix was released, reflecting the band's growing popularity.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Anthem of the Sun" is the second studio album by the Grateful Dead, released in 1968 by Warner Bros/Seven Arts. This album marks the first appearance of drummer Mickey Hart and features contributions from Tom Constanten, who introduced avant-garde elements influenced by composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

The album was uniquely crafted using a collage-like technique, with Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh, along with soundman Dan Healy, splicing together various studio and live recordings. This experimental approach resulted in an album that blends both live and studio elements, incorporating a range of instruments such as prepared piano, kazoo, harpsichord, timpani, trumpet, and güiro.

In 1972, a more commercially appealing alternate mix was released, reflecting the band's growing popularity. A 2018 reissue by Rhino Records includes both the original and the alternate mixes. Anthem of the Sun has been recognized in music history, ranking 288 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in both 2003 and 2012, and it was also voted number 376 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.