The Grateful Dead Make Multiple Returns to the Top 10

Despite having disbanded years ago, the Grateful Dead continue to make waves on the Billboard charts in America. This legendary jam rock band routinely releases archival live recordings from concerts held decades ago. Their audience remains large and loyal, ensuring nearly everything they drop becomes a commercial success, including their latest project.

Dave’s Picks Vol. 51: Scranton Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, PA (4/13/71), the new live album from the Grateful Dead, has debuted on multiple Billboard charts this week. It makes an impressive entry onto four different tallies, reaching the top tier on all but one.

The Grateful Dead nearly clinch the top spot on the Top Album Sales chart, an all-genre ranking of the bestselling full-length albums. Dave’s Picks Vol. 51 debuts at an impressive No. 3 on this chart.

In its initial full tracking period, Dave’s Picks Vol. 51 was purchased by just under 21,000 fans in the U.S., according to Luminate. This figure represents the total consumption of the album, as it was not made available on streaming platforms.

Dave’s Picks Vol. 51 also secures spots within the top 10 on two genre-specific charts. The latest release opens at No. 7 on the Top Rock Albums chart. Meanwhile, it debuts at No. 10 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums tally, just making it into the highest echelon of that ranking.

This live recording also lands on the Billboard 200, although it does not break into the top 10. It enters the all-encompassing albums ranking at No. 31.

Throughout their career, the Grateful Dead have now amassed 52 top 10 titles on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts. They have also managed to push 42 projects into the top region of the Top Album Sales ranking.

While their top 10 appearances on the Top Album Sales chart aren’t as numerous as those on other Billboard tallies, the band has still placed the most titles on this chart. The Grateful Dead has racked up a staggering 124 appearances on the purchase-only list—a historically high number.

Source: Billboard