Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack Gets First-Ever Vinyl Release

The 10-LP set features live performances from the band's 1974 Winterland Ballroom shows.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:00pm by Ben Kaplan

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The soundtrack to the Grateful Dead's 1977 concert documentary, 'The Grateful Dead Movie,' is getting its first-ever vinyl release. The 10-LP set, produced by Mondo in partnership with Rhino Records, features restored performances of classic Dead songs like 'Playing in the Band,' 'The Other One,' and 'Scarlet Begonias' from the band's five-night run at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom in October 1974.

Why it matters

The Grateful Dead's 1974 Winterland shows are considered among the best live performances in the band's storied history, and this vinyl release will allow fans to experience the energy and improvisation of those concerts in high-quality audio. The release also marks the first time the soundtrack has been available in any format since 2005.

The details

The new 10-LP set includes all 44 songs that appeared on the original CD release, pressed on colored, audiophile-quality vinyl. It also comes with a 42-page book featuring rare and previously unseen photos, as well as an essay by Grateful Dead historian Nicholas G. Meriwether. The set is limited to 3,000 individually numbered units and is available for preorder now, with shipping expected in May.

  • The Grateful Dead's five-night run at Winterland Ballroom took place in October 1974.
  • The Grateful Dead Movie, which documented the 1974 Winterland shows, was released in 1977.
  • The soundtrack to the film was last made available in any format in 2005.
  • The new 10-LP vinyl set is set to be released in May 2026.

The players

Grateful Dead

The legendary American rock band known for their improvisational live performances and devoted fanbase.

Jerry Garcia

The co-founder and lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead, who directed the band's 1977 concert documentary, 'The Grateful Dead Movie.'

Mickey Hart

The drummer for the Grateful Dead who had left the band in 1971 but returned for the band's 1974 Winterland Ballroom shows.

David Lemieux

The Grateful Dead's archivist, who is overseeing the release of the 10-LP vinyl set.

Nicholas G. Meriwether

A Grateful Dead historian who wrote the essay included in the 42-page book accompanying the vinyl set.

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What they’re saying

“Widely considered one of the greatest runs of shows in the Grateful Dead's history, October 1974 at the Winterland featured inspired, exciting and out-of-this-world playing.”

— David Lemieux, Grateful Dead archivist

What’s next

The new 10-LP vinyl set of the 'The Grateful Dead Movie' soundtrack is available for preorder now and is expected to ship in May 2026.

The takeaway

This vinyl release of the 'The Grateful Dead Movie' soundtrack allows fans to experience the energy and improvisation of the band's legendary 1974 Winterland Ballroom shows in high-quality audio, preserving an essential part of the Grateful Dead's storied live legacy.