What a Long Strange Trip It's Been
Encyclopedia
What a Long Strange Trip It's Been — subtitled The Best of the Grateful Dead — is a compilation album
by the Grateful Dead
. It was initially a two record LP
released in October 1977 by Warner Bros. Records
. Even though the band left Warner Bros. after their contract was up in order to form their own label, Grateful Dead Records
, Warner Bros. continued to release older material from during the contract period.
The title of the compilation comes from one of Robert Hunter
's most famous lyrics, the line from "Truckin'
": Lately it occurs to me: What a long, strange trip it's been.
The album was reissued as both a 2-CD set and on cassette tape, by Warner Bros. in 1989 when the band was revitalized by their latest albums In the Dark and Built to Last
.
:
Production:
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...
by 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 initially a two record 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...
released in October 1977 by 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...
. Even though the band left Warner Bros. after their contract was up in order to form their own label, Grateful Dead Records
Grateful Dead Records
In 1973, the Grateful Dead established their own record label, Grateful Dead Records. The band released several vinyl record LPs on this label in the mid-1970s, including Wake of the Flood in 1973, From the Mars Hotel in 1974, Blues for Allah in 1975, and a live double album, Steal Your Face, in...
, Warner Bros. continued to release older material from during the contract period.
The title of the compilation comes from one of Robert Hunter
Robert 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...
's most famous lyrics, the line from "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....
": Lately it occurs to me: What a long, strange trip it's been.
The album was reissued as both a 2-CD set and on cassette tape, by Warner Bros. in 1989 when the band was revitalized by their latest albums In the Dark and Built to Last
Built to Last
Built to Last is the thirteenth and final studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded between February 1 and October 20, 1989 and originally released on October 31, 1989....
.
Side one
Track four was recorded live in concert.- "New Minglewood Blues" (traditional, credited to McGannahan Skjellyfetti) – 2:34
- "Cosmic Charlie" (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...
, 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...
) – 5:30 - "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, Hunter, 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....
, 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...
) – 5:03 - "Black Peter" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:27
- "Born Cross-EyedBorn Cross-EyedBorn Cross-Eyed is an original composition by the San Francisco, CA Psychedelic rock group the Grateful Dead. It was written by rhythm guitarist Bob Weir during the band's sessions creating the album Anthem of the Sun, produced by David Hassinger, in 1968...
" (The Grateful Dead) – 2:55
Side two
- "RippleRipple (song)Ripple is the sixth song on the Grateful Dead album American Beauty. It was released as the B-side to the single "Truckin'".-Background:...
" (Hunter, Garcia) – 4:10 - "Doin' That Rag" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:40
- "Dark StarDark Star (song)"Dark Star" is a song released as a single by the Grateful Dead. It was written by lyricist Robert Hunter and composed by lead guitarist Jerry Garcia; however, compositional credit is sometimes extended to include Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and Bob Weir...
" (Garcia, Hunter) – 2:41 - "High Time" (Garcia, Hunter) – 5:12
- "New Speedway Boogie" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:05
Side three
All songs on side three were recorded live in concert.- "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, Lesh, Hunter) – 5:22 - "Jack StrawJack Straw (song)Jack Straw is a rock song written by Bob Weir and Robert Hunter in the Troubadour tradition. The track appeared on the Grateful Dead album, Europe '72, and was frequently performed live by the band....
" (Weir, Hunter) – 4:48 - "Me and My UncleMe and My Uncle"Me and My Uncle", often also written "Me & My Uncle," is a song composed by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and popularized by the Grateful Dead and Judy Collins...
" (PhillipsJohn Phillips (musician)John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
) – 3:03 - "Tennessee Jed" (Garcia, Hunter) – 7:11
Side four
All songs on side four were recorded live in concert.- "Cumberland Blues" (Garcia, Lesh, Hunter) – 5:41
- "Playing in the BandPlaying in the Band"Playing in the Band" is a Grateful Dead song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir composed it. The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live album Grateful Dead...
" (Weir, 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...
, Hunter) – 4:38 - "Brown-Eyed Woman" (Garcia, Hunter) – 4:37
- "Ramble On Rose" (Garcia, Hunter) – 6:01
Personnel
Grateful DeadGrateful 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...
:
- 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 - keyboards, harmonica, vocals
- Tom ConstantenTom ConstantenTom Constanten is an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the Grateful Dead from 1968 to 1970.-Biography:...
- keyboards - 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
- 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
Production:
- Betty Cantor, Bob Matthews - producers, engineers
- David HassingerDavid HassingerDavid Hassinger was a sound engineer at RCA Studios in Los Angeles.From November 1964 until August 1966 he was the engineer for the Rolling Stones, working on all of their albums recorded in that period....
, Owsley StanleyOwsley StanleyOwsley Stanley also known as Bear, was an essential and transitional personality in the development of the San Francisco Bay counter-culture. Spanning the Beat-era years of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters scenes, he was equally pivotal to the explosion of 1960's Psychedelia culture...
Producer - Paul Wexler - executive producer
Charts
Album - Billboard| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Pop Albums | 121 |
Certifications
| Certification | Date |
|---|---|
| Gold | August 24, 2001 |
| Platinum |
Production details
- "New, New Minglewood Blues" from 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...
. - "Dark Star" and "Born Cross-Eyed" from Dark Star/Born Cross-Eyed 7" single.
- "Cosmic Charlie" and "Doin' That Rag" from 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...
. - "St. Stephen" recorded live in concert and from Live/DeadLive/DeadLive/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...
. - "High Time" and "New Speedway Boogie" from 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....
. - "Truckin'" and "Ripple" from 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...
. - "Me and My Uncle" and "Playing in the Band" recorded live in concert and from Skull and RosesGrateful Dead (album)Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead, released in October 1971 on Warner Bros. Records, catalogue 2WS-1935. It is their second live double album, and also known generally by the names Skull and Roses and Skull Fuck Grateful Dead is the seventh album by the Grateful Dead,...
. - "Jack Straw", "Tennessee Jed", "Cumberland Blues", "Brown-Eyed Woman" and "Ramble On Rose" recorded live in concert and from 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:...
. - "Black Peter" from History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One is the ninth album and the fourth live album by the Grateful Dead, released in July 1973 on Warner Bros. Records, catalogue BS 2721...
.
Recording dates
- "St. Stephen" was recorded live in concert February 27, 1969.
- "Black Peter" was recorded live in concert February 13, 1970.
- "Playing In the Band" was recorded live in concert April 6, 1971.
- "Me and My Uncle" was recorded live in concert April 29, 1971.
- "Cumberland Blues" was recorded live in concert April 8, 1972.
- "Brown-Eyed Woman" was recorded live at the Tivoli Theater concert April 14, 1972.
- "Jack Straw" and "Tennessee Jed" were recorded live in concert on May 3, 1972.
- "Ramble on Rose" was recorded live in concert on May 23, 25 or 26, 1972.