What's Spinning, Vol 18

Americana at It's Finest

When you think of music history and albums that shaped said history, who do you think of?

Workingman's Dead, is one of the first I think of.

Why? Because they changed their whole style from that of psychedelic rock to that of something called, Americana.

Americana is defined as music native to America but more specifically music traditionally from the southern United States; blues, folk, and roots rock.

This genre really took off in 1965 by, The Byrds, when they decided to record, Mr. Tambourine Man, with electric guitars.

Fast forward to the Grateful Dead in 1970. The Dead were at a crossroads due to the mounting debt of their previous album, Aoxomoxow, they needed to release something fast.

This also was the first time one of the greatest duos in American music collaborated on an album. Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter would form a partnership that would change the band and music, forever.

If you haven't given it a listen yet, I urge you to really listen and just enjoy the music.

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Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead

Warner Brothers, 1970

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