Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead
Encyclopedia
Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead was the first compilation album
from the Grateful Dead
. It was first released on LP
in February 1974. The release was a ploy for Warner Bros. Records
to cash in on the escalating popularity of the band (based on the sales of Workingman's Dead
and American Beauty
).
Three of the tracks were not original Dead album studio recordings. This "Turn On Your Lovelight" first appeared on the album The Big Ball, which was a loss leader
sampler distributed by Warner Bros.; it had also appeared in longer form on Live/Dead
. "One More Saturday Night
" was taken from the band's live release Europe '72
. And "Mexicali Blues" was actually a track from guitarist Bob Weir
's solo release (but essentially Dead album) Ace
.
Warner Bros. released the album on CD
and cassette in 1988 before re-releasing the LP in 1990. The album would be later re-released on by Rhino Records on May 24, 2004 as part of a greatest hits series by various bands. It contains the complete "Lovelight" from Live/Dead.
Skeletons from the Closet is the Dead's best-selling album, going triple platinum in the United States.
The back cover has been under much scrutiny by fans in terms of interpretation. It depicts three men playing cards with a globe in the center of the table in a futuristic diner with a flying saucer hovering outside in the background. The three men appear as Marlon Brando from The Wild One
, a long-haired bearded man in a graduation cap and gown and a Bandito with a sly look on his face. Some have interpreted it as Man, Jesus Christ and The Devil playing cards for the world. However the artist, John Van Hamersveld, has never confirmed this.
RIAA Certification
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
from the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. It was first released on LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in February 1974. The release was a ploy for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
to cash in on the escalating popularity of the band (based on the sales of Workingman's Dead
Workingman's Dead
Workingman's Dead is the fourth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded in February 1970 and originally released on June 14, 1970....
and American Beauty
American Beauty (album)
American Beauty is the fifth album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded between August and September 1970 and originally released in November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records...
).
Three of the tracks were not original Dead album studio recordings. This "Turn On Your Lovelight" first appeared on the album The Big Ball, which was a loss leader
Loss leader
A loss leader or leader is a product sold at a low price to stimulate other profitable sales. It is a kind of sales promotion, in other words marketing concentrating on a pricing strategy. A loss leader is often a popular article...
sampler distributed by Warner Bros.; it had also appeared in longer form on Live/Dead
Live/Dead
Live/Dead is the first official live album released by the San Francisco-based band Grateful Dead. It was recorded over a series of live concerts in early 1969 and released later in the year on November 10...
. "One More Saturday Night
One More Saturday Night (song)
"One More Saturday Night" is a song written by Bob Weir and performed by the Grateful Dead. Weir is credited with writing "One More Saturday Night", although there is evidence that the song was originally written with Robert Hunter, with different lyrics...
" was taken from the band's live release Europe '72
Europe '72
Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
. And "Mexicali Blues" was actually a track from guitarist Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
's solo release (but essentially Dead album) Ace
Ace (Bob Weir album)
Ace was the first solo album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, released in 1972.Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia's Garcia and Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder...
.
Warner Bros. released the album on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and cassette in 1988 before re-releasing the LP in 1990. The album would be later re-released on by Rhino Records on May 24, 2004 as part of a greatest hits series by various bands. It contains the complete "Lovelight" from Live/Dead.
Skeletons from the Closet is the Dead's best-selling album, going triple platinum in the United States.
The back cover has been under much scrutiny by fans in terms of interpretation. It depicts three men playing cards with a globe in the center of the table in a futuristic diner with a flying saucer hovering outside in the background. The three men appear as Marlon Brando from The Wild One
The Wild One
The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. It is famed for Marlon Brando's iconic portrayal of the gang leader Johnny Strabler.-Basis:...
, a long-haired bearded man in a graduation cap and gown and a Bandito with a sly look on his face. Some have interpreted it as Man, Jesus Christ and The Devil playing cards for the world. However the artist, John Van Hamersveld, has never confirmed this.
Track listing
- "The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)" (Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
, Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
, Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan) – 2:07- Originally released on the album The Grateful DeadThe Grateful Dead (album)The Grateful Dead is the debut album of the Grateful Dead. It was recorded by Warner Bros. Records, and was released in March 1967. According to bassist Phil Lesh in his autobiography Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead, the album was released as San Francisco's Grateful...
.
- Originally released on the album The Grateful Dead
- "Truckin'Truckin'"Truckin'" is a song by the Grateful Dead, which first appeared on their 1970 album American Beauty. It was recognized by the United States Library of Congress in 1997 as a national treasure....
" (Garcia, Robert HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
, Lesh, Weir) – 5:09- Originally released on the album American BeautyAmerican Beauty (album)American Beauty is the fifth album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded between August and September 1970 and originally released in November 1970 by Warner Bros. Records...
.
- Originally released on the album American Beauty
- "Rosemary" (Garcia, Hunter) – 1:58
- Originally released on the album AoxomoxoaAoxomoxoaAoxomoxoa is the third studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was originally titled Earthquake Country. Many Deadheads consider this era of the Dead to be the experimental apex of the band's history. It is also the first album with Tom Constanten as an official member of the band...
.
- Originally released on the album Aoxomoxoa
- "Sugar MagnoliaSugar Magnolia"Sugar Magnolia" is a song by the Grateful Dead. Written by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir, it is one of the most well-known songs by the band, alongside such hits as "Truckin'," "Casey Jones," "Uncle John's Band," and "Touch of Grey."...
" (Hunter, Weir) – 3:15- Originally released on the album American Beauty.
- "St. StephenSt. Stephen (song)"St. Stephen" is a song by the Grateful Dead, written by Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter and originally released on the 1969 studio album Aoxomoxoa. The same year, a live version of the song was released on Live/Dead, their first concert album...
" (Garcia, Hunter, Lesh) – 4:26- Originally released on the album Aoxomoxoa.
- "Uncle John's BandUncle John's Band"Uncle John's Band" is a song by the Grateful Dead that first appeared in their concert setlists in late 1969. The band recorded it for their 1970 album Workingman's Dead...
" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:42- Originally released on the album Workingman's Dead.
- "Casey JonesCasey Jones (song)"Casey Jones" is a song by the American rock band the Grateful Dead. The music was written by Jerry Garcia, and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter. The song first appeared on the Dead's 1970 album Workingman's Dead. Subsequently it was included on a number of their live albums.The Grateful Dead...
" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:24- Originally released on the album Workingman's DeadWorkingman's DeadWorkingman's Dead is the fourth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded in February 1970 and originally released on June 14, 1970....
.
- Originally released on the album Workingman's Dead
- "Mexicali Blues" (John Perry BarlowJohn Perry BarlowJohn Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
, Weir) – 3:24- Originally released on the Bob Weir album AceAce (Bob Weir album)Ace was the first solo album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, released in 1972.Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia's Garcia and Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder...
.
- Originally released on the Bob Weir album Ace
- "Turn on Your Love LightTurn On Your Love Light"Turn On Your Love Light" is an R&B-style blues song recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. It was a both an important R&B and pop chart hit for Bland and has become one of his most identifiable songs...
" (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) – 6:30 / 15:08 (2004 re-release)- Originally released on Live/Dead.
- "One More Saturday NightOne More Saturday Night (song)"One More Saturday Night" is a song written by Bob Weir and performed by the Grateful Dead. Weir is credited with writing "One More Saturday Night", although there is evidence that the song was originally written with Robert Hunter, with different lyrics...
" (Weir) – 4:45- Originally released on the album Europe '72Europe '72Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
.
- Originally released on the album Europe '72
- "Friend of the DevilFriend of the Devil"Friend of the Devil" is a song recorded by the Grateful Dead. The music was written by Jerry Garcia and John Dawson and the lyrics are by Robert Hunter. It is the second track of the Dead's 1970 album American Beauty....
" (John DawsonJohn Dawson (musician)John Collins Dawson IV, nicknamed "Marmaduke" , was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was best known as the leader and co-founder of the country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage.-Musical career:...
, Garcia, Hunter) – 3:20- Originally released on the album American Beauty.
Grateful Dead
- Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals - Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
- guitar, vocals - Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - organ, harmonica, vocals
- Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
- bass - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
- drums - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
- drums - Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
- keyboards, vocals - Donna Jean Godchaux - vocals
- Tom ConstantenTom ConstantenTom Constanten is an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the Grateful Dead from 1968 to 1970.-Biography:...
- keyboards
Production
- Stephen Barncard, David Hassinger - compilation producers
- Dick Bogert - engineer
- Betty Cantor-Jackson, Bob Matthews - producers, engineers
- Dave Collins - digital remastering assistant
- Joe Gastwirt - remixing, producer
- Bob Seidemann - art direction
- John Van HamersveldJohn Van HamersveldJohn Van Hamersveld is an American graphic artist and illustrator who designed record jackets for pop and psychedelic bands, since the 1960s...
- artwork - Bill Wolf - editing
Charts
Billboard| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Pop Albums | 75 |
RIAA Certification
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
| Certification | Date |
|---|---|
| Gold | March 14, 1980 |
| Platinum | December 15, 1986 |
| Double Platinum | June 27, 1994 |
| Triple Platinum | January 31, 1995 |