Here’s how this song about getting by did a whole lot more than that for the Grateful Dead. In the first half ... the band had never before had a Top-40 single in 20 years or so worth of albums ...
At the same time, the Dead—especially Garcia and his longtime friend and lyricist Robert Hunter—began writing songs steeped in country, folk music, and Old West Americana tall tales.
The Grateful Dead's new releases Friend of the Devils: April 1978 and Duke ‘78 both debut on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart...but that's where the similarities end. (Photo by Malcolm Lubliner ...