Grateful Dead - History of the Grateful Dead Vol. 1 (Bear's Choice Live 50th Anniversary Edition)

Recorded by Owsley "Bear" Stanley at the Fillmore East on February 13 and 14, 1970, Bear's Choice stands as the Grateful Dead's first true archival album and a heartfelt tribute to Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, compiled after his death in 1973. This 50th Anniversary pressing captures the Dead at a pivotal moment—just weeks before recording Workingman's Dead and American Beauty—as they were perfecting their transition from psychedelic pranksters to Americana pioneers. Remastered by David Glasser using Plangent Processes from Bear's original 2-track analog tapes, this edition has never sounded better.

Side 1 presents definitive early Acoustic Dead: Pigpen's Valentine's Day performance of "Katie Mae" (played bottleneck guitar to his girlfriend in the crowd), Garcia and Weir's close-harmony "Dark Hollow," the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie," and "Black Peter"—the only original track on the album. Side 2 shifts to electric blues with Pigpen commanding both "Smokestack Lightning" and Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle," showcasing why he was the band's original frontman and blues heart.

Released in 1973 as the Dead's final album for Warner Bros., Bear's Choice was originally assembled to fulfill their contract so they could record Europe '72 as a triple LP. The album's intimate acoustic performances capture the Dead playing folk and country blues with the same precision they brought to marathon jams, while Pigpen's presence throughout makes this essential listening for understanding the band's roots. Bill Kreutzmann called it "a tribute and send-off to Pigpen," and 50 years later, it remains exactly that.

50th Anniversary Edition: Remastered by David Glasser using Plangent Processes. Pressed on black vinyl. Originally recorded live at Fillmore East, February 13-14, 1970.