Grateful Dead Break Record for Most Top 40 Albums on Billboard 200

Grateful Dead have broken the record for the most Top 40 albums on the Billboard 200 charts, surpassing previous holders of the title Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Dave’s Picks Vol. 49 became the jam band’s 59th album to cross into the Top 40. Presley, Sinatra, and Grateful Dead were previously tied with 58 albums total that charted each.

Dave’s Picks Vol. 49 is a live album by the Grateful Dead. Like every installment of the Dave’s Picks series, it was produced by David Lemieux, the band’s legacy manager and audio archivist, and is comprised of archive recordings from the band’s live shows. Vol. 49 highlights two Grateful Dead shows at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheatre on April 27 and 28, 1985 – the first shows from that year to appear in the Dave’s Picks series.

“This could be the most unlikely and unexpected record in music history, and is a testament to a few things,” said Lemieux. “First and foremost is the exceptional and consistent quality of the Grateful Dead’s more than 2,000 live shows. On the heels of this is the loyalty and passion of the many Dead Heads who have made this record possible. And to top it off, the Grateful Dead have a partnership with Rhino that ensures these many album releases are produced with care, love, and respect for both the band’s music and legacy, and the Dead Heads themselves. It’s an honor and privilege to work for this community, and our aim is to keep building on this record by delivering the quality of recordings Dead Heads have come to expect for many years ahead.”