A genuine American classic
One of the most aptly titled recordings in the rock canon, this is the Dead's studio masterpiece. Inspired by American folk and country music and by the sophisticated vocal harmonies that Crosby, Stills and Nash were producing at the time, Garcia and company crafted 10 tracks that are polished, warmly engaging, and uniquely American. This isn't their most progressive work, or their most explosive, but it's probably their most accessible. From the exquisite melancholy of Phil Lesh's "Box of Rain", the bluegrassy "Friend of the Devil", and the exuberant "Sugar Magnolia", to the beautifully harmonized "Attics of My Life" and the traveling beat of Bob Weir's "Truckin'" the Dead staked claim to a sound that remained uniquely theirs for the rest of their career. A genuine American classic.

Ripple
"American Beauty" is one of the definitive Grateful Dead albums, of that there can be no question. Following "Workingman's Dead", this album continues the direction the band took with blues, country, and folk-styled original songs. To say the album is good is to say that air is essential for life. It's a fantastic milestone in American music. Most of the album will grab you, with tracks like "Operator" and arguably "Candy Man" being the weakest. The strongest track on this album in my opinion is "Ripple", as I understand it, a song that more or less became Jerry Garcia's theme song. It's a deeply spiritual track, and one that I love dearly. You'll almost certainly have heard "Friend of the Devil", "Sugar Magnolia", and "Truckin'" on any good rock radio station, so there should be some familiar territory to cover on this album. Consider this album essential Grateful Dead.

A Rose by Any Other Scent Would Smell Like Patchouli: American Beauty is Definitive Dead.
Named after a French perpetual rose (depicted on the album's classic cover), the Grateful Dead's fifth album American Beauty (1970) is Definitive Dead, and essential to any serious rock collection. (If you could only own one Dead album, this is The One to own.) It is a landmark fusion of rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, country, and improvisational jam. If this Rose had a scent, it would smell more like patchouli. The album includes the impossible-to-escape-in-the-70's radio single, "Truckin'" (the song that first introduced me to the Dead). The album features Garcia on vocals, guitar and pedal steel guitar, Weir on vocals and guitar, Lesh on bass and vocals, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan on harmonica and vocals, and Kreutzmann and Hart on percussion. I first experienced this album on vinyl. The remastered CD is worth the upgrade from vinyl, featuring the following setlist:

1. Box Of Rain
2. Friend Of the Devil
3. Sugar Magnolia
4. Operator
5. Candyman
6. Ripple
7. Brokedown Palace
8. Till the Morning Comes
9. Attics Of My Life
10. Truckin'

11. Truckin' (single edit)
12. Friend Of the Devil (recorded live at the Filmore East on 5/15/1970)
13. Candyman (recorded live at Winterland on 4/15/1970)
14. Till the Morning Comes (recorded live at Winterland on 10/4/1970)
15. Attics Of My Life (recorded live at the Filmore West on 6/6/1970)
16. Truckin' (recorded live at Legion Stadium on 12/26/1970)
17. Ripple (Single Version) (Unlisted Bonus Track)
18. American Beauty Promo (Unlisted Bonus Track)

G. Merritt

Love it
This purchase was to replace an old, long-lost copy. I've always liked their studio-produced stuff, much to the chagrin of some more serious aficionados. Every once in a while it's nice to hear a nice crisp rendition than to have to pore over tons of bootlegs to find just the one. Lots of nice lazy campfire tracks on this one.

There best was 1965 to 1969
I am a big fan of Psychedelic Music of the late 60s. So that being said you know where I am coming from. I am also not a country / folk fan. I'm a Rock & Roll Fan. So that being said I love the Dead from 1965 to 1969 and after that its hit and or miss.
I like some of there later songs and some of there live jams.
This is an Awesome !!! CD if you are into 60s Psych music.
I consider this the Deads best Album right with Aoxomoxoa then Anthem of the Sun then Live Dead in that order there best four Albums.
My reaction to Workingman's Dead and American Beauty (Both great Albums if you like that type of music) is this a Rock band? Where are the electric Guitars?
Sorry I love the Deads early Rock Music.