American Beauty [Bonus Tracks]

1	Box of Rain 5:18
2	Friend of the Devil 3:24
3	Sugar Magnolia 3:19
4	Operator 2:25
5	Candy Man 6:13
6	Ripple 4:09
7	Brokedown Palace 4:09
8	Till the Morning Comes 3:09
9	Attics of My Life 5:14
10	Truckin' 5:17
11	Truckin' Bonus Track / Single Version 3:17
12	Friend of the Devil Live / Bonus Track 4:21
13	Candy Man Live / Bonus Track 5:18
14	Till the Morning Comes Live / Bonus Track 3:20
15	Attics of My Life Live / Bonus Track 6:31
16	Truckin' Live / Bonus Track 10:10
17	[Untitled Hidden Track] 3:01
18	[Untitled Hidden Track] 1:10

Barnes & Noble

Continuing with the groundwork laid on Workingman's Dead, American Beauty finds the Grateful Dead digging deeper into their well of original songs based in the idioms of American roots music. From the opening strums of "Box of Rain," American Beauty lives up to its title, weaving a quilt of modern-day American campfire classics out of a fabric made of bluegrass, country, blues, pop and rock. With the Dead's songwriting skills hitting their apex, songs like "Ripple," "Brokedown Palace," "Candyman," and "Attics of My Life" tug on musical heartstrings, broaching the subjects of love, loss, and consolation. Enlisting the accompaniment of compadres the New Riders of the Purple Sage and David Grisman, whose mandolin work graces "Friend of the Devil," American Beauty also provides the world with two staples of Classic-rock radio, the sweet-harmonied pop of "Sugar Magnolia" and the blues-tinged travelogue "Truckin."' Bob Bleetstein

All Music Guide

A companion piece to the luminous Workingman's Dead, American Beauty is an even stronger document of the Grateful Dead's return to their musical roots. Sporting a more full-bodied and intricate sound than its predecessor thanks to the addition of subtle electric textures, the record is also more representative of the group as a collective unit, allowing for stunning contributions from Dave Torbert (the poignant opener "Box of Rain") and Bob Weir ("Sugar Magnolia"); at the top of his game as well is Jerry Garcia, who delivers the superb "Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," and "Ripple." Climaxing with the perennial "Truckin'," American Beauty remains the Dead's studio masterpiece -- never again would they be so musically focused or so emotionally direct. [The 2003 reissue on Rhino contains expanded liner notes with lots of photos. It also adds five new tracks to the album's original running order: the single version of "Truckin'" and four live tracks ("Friend of the Devil" recorded at the Filmore East on 5/15/1970, "Candyman" recorded at Winterland on 4/15/1970, "Till the Morning Comes" recorded at Winterland on 10/4/1970, "Attics of My Life" recorded at the Filmore West on 6/6/1970, and "Truckin'" recorded at Legion Stadium on 12/26/1970).] Jason Ankeny