Behind the Covers

Grateful Dead

1 album cover in our archive

Grateful Dead is featured in Behind the Covers' archive with 1 album cover from the 1970s. Released on Warner Bros. Records, the artwork sits in the rock tradition. Each cover is documented in our archive with design notes covering ambigram, typography, psychedelic, iconic, hand drawn, photography. Below you'll find the full story behind each Grateful Dead cover — designers, photographers, label history, and the visual choices that defined the release.

American Beauty by Grateful Dead — album cover art

American Beauty (1970)

The iconic American Beauty cover features a rose surrounded by ambigram lettering that also reads 'American Reality.' Created by the legendary Kelley/Mouse Studios duo, it ranked 63rd on Rolling Stone's best album covers list.

Label
Warner Bros. Records
Designer
Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley
Photographer
George Conger
Genre
Rock
Decade
1970s
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