The Grateful Dead made history this week, earning the Guinness World Record for the most Top 40 albums charted on the Billboard 200. Though the seminal jam band officially ended 30 years ago following the death of guitarist Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead have connected with generations of fans through a consistent stream of archival releases.
The Grateful Dead approached the commercial milestone back in November 2023 with Dave’s Picks Vol. 48, becoming the band’s 58th album to enter the Top 40 and tying them with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Fast forward two years and a few more archival releases, and the Grateful Dead officially have more Top 40 albums than any artist in history, thanks to Dave’s Picks Vol. 56: Rainbow Theatre, London, England – 3/20/81 & 3/21/81, which debuted at #25 to become the band’s 66th Top 40 album.
“This Guinness World Records title is something that no one could have anticipated 60 years ago when the Grateful Dead began,” the band’s legacy manager and archivist and Dave’s Pick’s producer David Lemieux said, “but the record demonstrates the dedication, passion, and loyalty of the massive legion of Dead Heads, as well as the consistent quality of the Grateful Dead’s recorded output and archival activities over the past six decades.”
Related: Grateful Dead Studio Albums Ranked Worst To Best
The Guinness World Record comes at the tail end of a yearlong celebration of the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary. This year has seen the band named MusiCares‘ Persons of the Year, an event that featured performances from Billy Strings, John Mayer, Lukas Nelson, Sierra Ferrell, and others. The Dead were also celebrated at the Kennedy Center in late 2024, prompting more all-star tributes from Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Sturgill Simpson, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, Rick Mitarotonda (Goose), and many more.
Dead & Company—featuring surviving Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane—also marked the occasion with a three-night run at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, featuring some familiar faces from the tribute shows like Billy Strings and Sturgill Simpson, plus Phish’s Trey Anastasio.
“We’re excited to see the Grateful Dead reach another milestone with this Guinness World Records title,” said Mark Pinkus, president of Rhino Records, the Dead’s archival release distributor. “Rhino has been committed to preserving and honoring the Grateful Dead’s legacy through quality archival releases. What a wonderful way to close out their 60th anniversary celebrations.”
While the Grateful Dead weren’t exactly known as a commercial juggernaut on the charts, all 13 of the band’s studio albums cracked the top 90 (nine in the Top 40), peaking with 1987’s In The Dark at #6 with its breakout hit, “Touch of Grey”. The band defied industry norms by allowing fans to record their shows and distribute the tapes for free, but in the post-Jerry years, they have become a prolific catalog act by releasing professionally recorded audio of the same shows, often in sleek packaging adorned with intricate artwork. Some releases of legendary shows have charted even better than the Dead’s original albums, like Sunshine Daydream and Cornell 5/8/77, which respectively came in at 19 and 25. Revisit the Dead’s complete Billboard 200 history here.
Check out audio from the release that got the Grateful Dead the Guinness World Record, Dave’s Picks Vol. 56: Rainbow Theatre, London, England – 3/20/81 & 3/21/81. The official release is available for purchase here.
Grateful Dead — Rainbow Theatre — London, England — 3/20/81 — Full Show
[Audio: Matthew Vernon]
Grateful Dead — Rainbow Theatre — London, England — 3/21/81 — Full Show
[Audio: Matthew Vernon]
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