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The 20 Best Grateful Dead Songs of All Time

by YPB Team

From gentle acoustic ballads to sprawling psychedelic jams, this catalog stretches from tender folk to full-throttle improvisation. Where do you stand?

  1. Truckin' — ranked #11
    Truckin'
    A 1970 road-life anthem and one of the band's most enduring concert staples.
    1000pts
  2. Box of Rain — ranked #22
    Box of Rain
    A 1970 ballad written by Phil Lesh for his dying father, closing out American Beauty.
    832pts
  3. Casey Jones — ranked #33
    Casey Jones
    A 1970 boogie-rock tune about a runaway train, driven by its instantly recognizable riff.
    741pts
  4. Bertha — ranked #44
    Bertha
    A driving 1971 rocker that frequently opened the band's live shows.
    706pts
  5. Touch of Grey — ranked #55
    Touch of Grey
    The band's only top-10 hit, a 1987 anthem of resilience that introduced them to a new generation.
    680pts
  6. Sugaree — ranked #66
    Sugaree
    A slow-burning 1972 blues-rock song that became a favorite vehicle for extended jamming.
    611pts
  7. St. Stephen — ranked #77
    St. Stephen
    A kaleidoscopic 1969 psychedelic song with shifting tempos and cryptic lyrics.
    611pts
  8. Jack Straw — ranked #88
    Jack Straw
    A 1971 outlaw narrative song known for its shared lead vocals and driving rhythm.
    529pts
  9. Dark Star — ranked #99
    Dark Star
    A sprawling psychedelic improvisation from 1968 considered the ultimate vehicle for the band's live jamming.
    529pts
  10. Ripple — ranked #1010
    Ripple
    A gentle 1970 acoustic ballad from American Beauty prized for its meditative lyrics.
    529pts
  11. Fire on the Mountain — ranked #1111
    Fire on the Mountain
    A 1978 groove-heavy jam that became the band's signature second-set live pairing.
    433pts
  12. Scarlet Begonias — ranked #1212
    Scarlet Begonias
    A 1974 reggae-inflected tune known for its extended live pairing with 'Fire on the Mountain.'
    433pts
  13. Sugar Magnolia — ranked #1313
    Sugar Magnolia
    An upbeat 1970 love song that became one of the band's most-played live closers.
    433pts
  14. Friend of the Devil — ranked #1414
    Friend of the Devil
    A 1970 bluegrass-tinged narrative song about a man on the run, a fan-favorite acoustic number.
    433pts
  15. China Cat Sunflower — ranked #1515
    China Cat Sunflower
    A whimsical 1969 psychedelic song often segued live into 'I Know You Rider.'
    317pts
  16. Uncle John's Band — ranked #1616
    Uncle John's Band
    A 1970 folk-rock singalong that opens the Workingman's Dead album.
    0pts
  17. Franklin's Tower — ranked #1717
    Franklin's Tower
    A jubilant 1975 jam-band staple built around the refrain 'roll away the dew.'
    0pts
  18. Estimated Prophet — ranked #1818
    Estimated Prophet
    A 1977 reggae-influenced song written in an unusual 7/4 time signature.
    0pts
  19. Terrapin Station — ranked #1919
    Terrapin Station
    An ambitious 1977 multi-part suite blending folklore and orchestration.
    0pts
  20. Wharf Rat — ranked #2020
    Wharf Rat
    A 1971 character study of a down-and-out drifter, prized for its emotional peaks in live performance.
    0pts
music843rock212bands205grateful dead1

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