Truckin, which was then the bands biggest hit single, talked about the bands experiences on the road.Ĭonsequently, the Deads record label, Warner Bros., paid for the band to travel with a professional 16-track recorder.Ĭonsequently, Europe 72 was treated as a new-material release as much as a live retrospective, and the new songs on the album were considered definitive versions.

Songs such as Jack Straw stemmed from these influences, 14 while Cumberland Blues and Tennessee Jed had lyrics relating to American historical culture.

He had become increasingly influenced by country and traditional American music. Keyboardist Keith Godchaux was recruited, in September 1971, initially to augment founding member Ron Pigpen McKernan, who had been hospitalized and was experiencing increasingly poor health.Īdditionally, Godchauxs wife Donna (a former session singer who had worked with Percy Sledge and Elvis Presley ) officially joined the band as a backup vocalist in March, shortly before the tour commenced. Consequently, the entire tour was recorded, with highlights making it onto the final release.Įurope 72 is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums by the Dead.Ī second volume was released in 2011, in conjunction with the release of the entire 22-date tour as Europe 72: The Complete Recordings.ĭrummerpercussionist Mickey Hart left the group in early 1971, making Bill Kreutzmann the groups sole drummer once again.

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