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Grateful Dead

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American Beauty

Grateful Dead · 1970

American Beauty is the Grateful Dead’s 1970 studio album — recorded fast, under pressure, without their usual crew, and produced by Stephen Barncard. It features pedal steel instead of lead guitar, mandolin from David Grisman, and songs from Lesh, Weir, and McKernan alongside Garcia and Hunter. Eight tracks became live staples. It helped pioneer Americana — not as revival, but as reinvention.