The Grateful Dead now have the most top 40 albums in history
Following the release of their recent live album, Dicks Picks: Volume 49, the Grateful Dead now hold the record for the most top 40 albums of all time, in the United States.
Dicks Picks: Volume 49, charted at 25 on the Billboard 200, which means they have now had a total of 59 albums enter the top 40 albums chart. In achieving this, the group have beaten Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, who were previously tied at 58.
Many of the band’s entries charted long after the band initially disbanded following the passing of Jerry Garcia in 1995. In fact, 41 out of their 59 charting albums were released in 2012, courtesy of the Dicks Picks series, a range of albums that contain recordings of live gigs.
The news of the record arrives days after Dead and Company announced they would be doing a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2024. The spin-off band consist of Mickey Hart, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, John Mayer and Jay Lane. While their return to the stage has invited questions about further shows, this will be billed as a small residency rather than a full tour.
While no dates have been confirmed for the residency yet, it has been confirmed they will play at least 15 shows. The set of concerts will mark the third residency in the sphere, following stints from U2, who are still performing in Vegas, and Phish.
Although Dead and Company did previously hint in 2023 they had finished touring, the residency seems to start a new chapter of their career.
Listen to the Dicks Picks series below.
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