The versatility of the Grateful Dead is immediately evident in this installment of the Classic Albums series, which covers two vastly different Dead releases from the band`s early days. The experimental ANTHEM TO THE SUN album released in 1968 became a classic with its extended jams and acid trip soundscapes. Only five tracks comprised this landmark document of the Haight-Ashbury scene. AMERICAN BEAUTY, released only two years later, could not have been more different. Rooted in country music, the understated album contained melodic radio hits such as Truckin`, Friend of the Devil, Sugar Magnolia, and Ripple. This Classic Albums release contains rare archival footage and interviews conducted in 1997 with David Grisman, Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter, and others as they recall these legendary recording sessions, plus Grateful Dead TV appearances and home videos by the band.