New Eight-Album Collection Will Tell "The Story of the Grateful Dead"

A new eight-album set from Vinyl, Me Please will attempt to capture the magic of the Grateful Dead in 14 vinyl LPs.

VMP Anthology: The Story of the Grateful Dead is a limited-edition collection containing four classic studio albums and four essential live albums from the legendary jam band.

The set includes Workingman’s Dead (1970), American Beauty (1970), Live Dead (Fillmore West 1969), Europe ‘72 Vol. 1 (1972), Wake of the Flood (1973), Terrapin Station (1977), Reckoning (1981) and Without a Net (1989-90).

Pressed on colored, 180-gram vinyl, the set comes packaged in a custom, Jeremy Dean-designed box.

“We have heard that so many music fans have a curiosity and desire to explore the Grateful Dead, but they are overwhelmed by the depth and the grandeur that comes with their studio catalog, live recordings and the lore surrounding the culture they founded,” said VMP chief brand officer Cameron Schaefer. “VMP is here to take these music fans on a deep journey through the Dead and to frame the breadth of the band’s iconic career for today’s music lover.”

In addition to the albums, the collection includes liner notes and essays from fans including Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Avey Tare of Animal Collective, MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger, Scott Devendorf of the National and John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats as well as archival and rare photos.

Here’s a portion of James’s tribute to American Beauty courtesy of Rolling Stone:

One day it hit me: when someone hears the Grateful Dead, in whatever state or form it may hit you in — and there are many — they feel the way they WANT to feel. And in wishing to feel how the music sounds, eventually you DO start to feel that way! Whenever I hear Jerry or Bobby’s voices, or the shifting sounds of the band hit me, the emotion that registers is limitless possibility. This is how I wish I could feel; this is how I want to feel. And, if I listen hard enough, this is how I can feel. And I have listened. And I have felt. And I am forever changed.

The collection is priced at $449 and will be limited to 7,500 copies.

Here’s Bill Walton previewing the set: