When the Grateful Dead stepped away from touring in 1974 following their farewell shows at Winterland, there was no telling when—or even if—they’d regroup. But just a year later, they defied expectations with Blues for Allah, a bold return marked by some of the most inventive and sonically daring music they’d ever recorded.
Blues for Allah (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) will be available as a 3CD set and digitally on September 12—just days after the album’s original 1975 release. It features a newly remastered version of the original album by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glasser, sourced from the original analog tapes with speed correction and tape restoration by Plangent Processes.
The set also features almost two hours of unreleased recordings. Among the highlights are rehearsals from the band’s August 12, 1975, soundcheck at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, including the album tracks “Sage & Spirit,” “Help On The Way,” “Slipknot!,” and “Franklin’s Tower.” The collection continues with performances from the June 21, 1976, show at the Tower Theatre in Pennsylvania, spotlighting five Blues for Allah songs alongside favorites like “Eyes Of The World.” Rounding out the set are selections from Bill Graham’s SNACK (Students Need Athletics, Culture, and Kicks) Benefit at Kezar Stadium on March 23, 1975. Previously only available on the 2004 Beyond Description box set’s Bonus Disc, the recordings include one of only three known performances of “King Solomon’s Marbles.” Pre-order HERE.
Also arriving September 12, Blues for Allah (50th Anniversary Remaster)will be released on 180-gram black vinyl, picture disc, as well as a limited-edition “Midnight Fire” custom vinyl, exclusive to Dead.net. The custom vinyl includes a replica lyric sheet with English and Arabic translations, just like the original. A Blu-ray edition will also be available exclusively at Rhino.com, featuring four new mixes of the album by acclaimed producer Steven Wilson: Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround, hi-resolution stereo, and an instrumental mix.
The newly remastered version of “The Music Never Stopped”—the first single from the original album—is available today digitally and can be heard below. “This fanciful take of life on the road, the journey of Dead Heads, and the magic the Grateful Dead brought from town to town was a fan favorite every time it was played,” says Grateful Dead Legacy Manager and Archivist David Lemieux.
BLUES FOR ALLAH (50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION)
3CD Track Listing
Disc One
2025 Remaster
“Help On The Way” / “Slipknot!”
“Franklin’s Tower”
“King Solomon’s Marbles”
Part I: “Stronger Than Dirt”
Part II: “Milkin’ The Turkey”
“The Music Never Stopped”
“Crazy Fingers”
“Sage & Spirit”
“Blues For Allah”
“Sand Castles & Glass Camels”
“Unusual Occurrences In The Desert”
Disc Two
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA Soundcheck/Rehearsal (8/12/75)
“Help On The Way” >
“Slipknot!”
“Franklin’s Tower”
“Help On The Way” >
“Slipknot!”
“Franklin’s Tower”
“King Solomon’s Marbles”
“Crazy Fingers”
“Sage And Spirit”
Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA (3/23/75)
“Blues For Allah”
“Stronger Than Dirt (Or Milkin’ The Turkey)”
“Drums”
“Stronger Than Dirt (Or Milkin’ The Turkey)”
“Blues For Allah”
Disc Three
Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA (6/21/76 and 6/22/76)
“The Music Never Stopped”
“Help On The Way” >
“Slipknot!” >
“Franklin’s Tower”
“Crazy Fingers”
“Comes A Time”
“Eyes Of The World” >
“Dancing In The Street”
