67. Ripple by Grateful Dead

"Ripple" by Grateful Dead

Written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter
Produced by Grateful Dead and Steve Barncard
Released on American Beauty (November 1, 1970)
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While "Ripple" is one of the oldest songs on my list, it's actually the song in my top 100 that is newest to me. When I started putting this list together, a friend of mine sent me the top 100 lists that he and a few of his buddies had made a few years ago. I took the time to listen to their lists while on a road trip out west. It gave me the opportunity to get to know my friend a bit more while also affording me the chance to see if there were any gems that I had overlooked. For the most part, the lists reminded me just how diverse musical tastes can be. Even people who mostly listen to "classic rock" can have wildly divergent opinions about what classic rock is best.

Three songs from those lists really stuck with me: "Ripple" by Grateful Dead, "Strangers" by The Kinks, and "Every Step of the Way" by Steve Walsh. While the latter two songs failed to make my top 100, both they're in some of my playlists. (I actually keep thinking I should put "Strangers" on the list even now. It's an incredible song. Maybe it'll make the next list.)

Even though I only really found three new songs to add to my collection, I'm now even more paranoid about what else I might be missing. What other hidden gems are just waiting for my ears to find them?

Grateful Dead began their careers as part of the psychedelic music movement, but then they earned their esteemed reputation as a jam band. I first learned of them in the late 1980s because their video for "Touch of Grey" was on MTV a lot. It's a fantastic song and a fun video, but the song and video were all about how old they were, so I wasn't sure how seriously to take them. When I got into trivia and almanacs, I remember being amazed by the fact that they were the top grossing touring act in the country. They made so much more than any other band, and it wasn't close. What was so special about this group of old men?

Of course, they weren't actually that old. Jerry Garcia was in his 40's when I first heard "Touch of Grey." Even knowing that, I have yet to see a video or photo of him where he looks young. When he passed in 1995, he had just turned 53. While that may seem ancient in the realm of popular music, we really didn't get Jerry for nearly long enough. Jerry Garcia is so important to popular music. (My favorite random fact about him is that he played the pedal slide guitar on the Crosby, Stills, Nash. & Young classic "Teach You Children.")

"Ripple" felt both brand new and oddly familiar when I first heard it. It's simple and pleasant and easy. Those who think the Grateful Dead are only good in concert have clearly never listened to their American Beauty album. It is full of great recordings of great songs. "Friend of the Devil" or "Truckin'" may be the most familiar tracks to many, but "Ripple" is their masterpiece.

While the lyrics and melody are pleasant and enjoyable, the real clincher is the sing-a-long chorus that closes the song. I'm a sucker for just about any rock song that's recorded to sound like a whole crowd of people are singing along. The next song on my list actually uses that same trick (in a very different yet just as effective way).

So I'm going to keep listening to music that's new to me. I know there's more stuff out there that is begging for me to hear it. There will probably be plenty of stinkers along the way, but it will be worth it when I find that next great song to throw on a playlist.

Right now, "Ripple" by Grateful Dead is (probably) my 67th favorite song of all time.