In 1973, the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

established their own

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

, Grateful Dead Records. The band released four

vinyl LP The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...

s on the label in the mid-1970s: ''

Wake of the Flood ''Wake of the Flood'' is the sixth studio album (tenth overall) by rock band the Grateful Dead. Released October 15, 1973, it was the first album on the band's own Grateful Dead Records label. Their first studio album in nearly three years, it ...

'' in 1973, ''

From the Mars Hotel ''From the Mars Hotel'' is the seventh studio album by rock band the Grateful Dead. It was mainly recorded in April 1974, and originally released June 27, 1974. It was the second album by the band on their own Grateful Dead Records label. ''From ...

'' in 1974, ''

Blues for Allah ''Blues for Allah'' is the eighth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded February 27 May 7, 1975, and released September 1, 1975. It was the band's third album on their own Grateful Dead Records label and their third studio album ...

'' in 1975, and a live

double album A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...

, ''

Steal Your Face ''Steal Your Face'' is a live double album by the Grateful Dead, released in June 1976. The album was recorded October 1720, 1974, at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, during a "farewell run" that preceded a then-indefinite hiatus. It was the ...

'', in 1976. Album distribution was negotiated and contracted by the band's label through

United Artists Records United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B. History Genres In 1959, ...

. A second label, Round Records, was used to release solo albums by members of the band."Grateful Dead Records"
''DeadDisc''
''DeadDisc'' Initially, the band established their own label ostensibly to exercise more control over artistic content and other choices in and out of the studio. In a letter mailed to fans, they announced their plans to establish their own label, going so far as to comment that one of their fantasies included distributing their albums via

ice cream trucks An ice cream van (British) or ice cream truck (North American) is a commercial vehicle that serves as a mobile retail outlet for ice cream, usually during the spring and summer. Ice cream vans are often seen parked at public events, or near ...

outside concert venues during their concerts, and, beginning with ''Wake of the Flood'', hoped to grasp control of all aspects of recording and distribution of their own records. In addition, they hoped that the fans would act "as part of our eyes, ears and feet on the ground to keep the scene straight locally". However, Grateful Dead Records resulted in a traditional business venture along the same routine as was usual. After a few years, the added stress of handling business matters took its toll, and the bandmates opted out of operating the label and signed with

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...

in 1977. Grateful Dead Records was revived in the 1990s and 2000s for CD reissues of the band's non-major-label and "authorized

bootleg Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to: * Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially * Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence: ** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...

" live concert releases such as the

Dick's Picks The discography of the rock band the Grateful Dead includes more than 200 albums, the majority of them recorded live in concert. The band has also released more than two dozen singles and a number of videos. The Grateful Dead formed in the Sa ...

series.

References

External links

Grateful Dead Books
{{Authority control American independent record labels Grateful Dead Psychedelic rock record labels Record labels disestablished in 1977 Record labels established in 1973 Re-established companies Vanity record labels

See also

References

External links