The cover art is darkly themed, with red, Old English Gothic script and a black skeleton graphic against a black background. The title comes from the bridge of 'Truckin '', which ends with the stanza: albums, the only one unrepresented is Anthem of the Sun (aside from its associated single). Stephen' appears again, though this time in a live version (an excerpt of the Live/Dead track). The Grateful Dead's most recognizable song at the time, 'Truckin',' is the only track used on both compilations.

Two tracks are single versions previously unavailable on album: the studio version of 'Dark Star', and its B-side, the single mix of Anthem of the Sun's 'Born Cross-Eyed'. Sixteen of the tracks are taken from previously released albums. What a Long Strange Trip It's Been is a two-record set, with mostly studio tracks collected on the first disc and all live tracks on the second. released a second, larger compilation of tracks from the 1967–1972 period. The compilation of tracks from their back catalog was successful, and when the band moved onto Arista Records in 1977 to record Terrapin Station, Warner Bros.

and begun self-releasing their recordings, the label released Skeletons from the Closet. Unlike the previous compilation, What a Long Strange Trip It's Been is a double album.Īfter the Grateful Dead had completed their contract with Warner Bros. Both albums are subtitled 'The Best of the Grateful Dead'.

Records, three and a half years after the Skeletons from the Closet compilation. What a Long Strange Trip It's Been is the second compilation album by American rock band Grateful Dead.

Grateful dead best space