The Music Never Stopped: Grateful Dead Make Billboard Chart History

When it comes to Top 40 dominance on the Billboard 200 Albums chart the Grateful Dead may not be the first artist to come to mind. The latest archival live album release reached #25 on the Billboard 200, giving the Grateful Dead the record for the most Top 40 entries on the longstanding chart.

The record-setting release was the latest installment in the band’s Daves’s Picks series curated by Grateful Dead legacy manager and audio archivist, David Lemieux. The recently issued Dave’s Picks Vol. 49, which was culled from the Grateful Dead’s concerts at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheatre on April 27-28, 1985, set the record for Top 40 entries, breaking a tie with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Lemieux, who this year marks his 25th anniversary with the Grateful Dead, stated:

“This could be the most unlikely and unexpected record in music history, and is a testament to a few things. First and foremost is the exceptional and consistent quality of the Grateful Dead’s more than 2,000 live shows. On the heels of this is the loyalty and passion of the many Dead Heads who have made this record possible. And to top it off, the Grateful Dead have a partnership with Rhino that ensures these many album releases are produced with care, love, and respect for both the band’s music and legacy, and the Dead Heads themselves. It’s an honor and privilege to work for this community, and our aim is to keep building on this record by delivering the quality of recordings Dead Heads have come to expect for many years ahead.”

The Grateful Dead’s self-titled debut album was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1967. The band first landed in the Billboard 200 Top 40 in 1970 with the release of the albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. More recently, Rhino Records has issued 45 of the Grateful Dead’s Top 40 albums.

“It is truly remarkable to witness the Grateful Dead’s enduring legacy and profound impact,” Rhino Records president Mark Pinkus stated. “Their music and culture transcend time, and this groundbreaking achievement is a testament to their ongoing influence. Rhino is honored to continue to share their meaningful and magical music with Dead Heads, both old and new.”