Built to Last
The Grateful Dead build a house of cards.
Studio album by
The Grateful Dead
ReleasedOctober 31, 1989
RecordedFebruary 1 – October 20, 1989
StudioClub Front (San Rafael, CA)
Skywalker Ranch (San Rafael, CA)
Studio X (Petaluma, CA)
Genre
Length49:52
LabelArista
Producer
The Grateful Dead chronology
Dylan & The Dead
(1989) 		Built to Last
(1989) 		Without a Net
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauC+[2]

Built to Last is the thirteenth and final studio album by the Grateful Dead (their twentieth album overall). It was recorded between February 1 and October 20, 1989, and originally released on October 31, 1989.

The album was released on CD in 1989 by Arista Records before being rereleased in 2000 by BMG International. It was then remastered, expanded, and released as part of the Beyond Description (1973–1989) 12-CD box set in October 2004. The remastered version was later released separately on CD on April 11, 2006, by Rhino Records.

This album features the most songs by keyboard player Brent Mydland, who has four song credits, all of which are in collaboration with Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. This mirrored accurately Mydland's increasing vocal presence in the band over the decade he spent with the Dead.

Track listing

CD track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead SingerLength
1."Foolish Heart"
Garcia5:10
2."Just a Little Light"
Mydland4:42
3."Built to Last"
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia5:03
4."Blow Away"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland6:09
5."Victim or the Crime"
Weir7:33
6."We Can Run"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland5:30
7."Standing on the Moon"
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia5:20
8."Picasso Moon"
Weir6:40
9."I Will Take You Home"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland3:45
Total length:49:52
LP track listing – side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead SingerLength
1."Foolish Heart"
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia5:10
2."Just a Little Light"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland4:42
3."Victim or the Crime"
  • Graham
  • Weir
Weir7:33
4."Standing on the Moon"
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia5:20
LP track listing – side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Blow Away"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland6:09
2."Picasso Moon"
  • Barlow
  • Bralove
  • Weir
Weir6:40
3."Built to Last"
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia5:03
4."I Will Take You Home"
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland3:45
2004 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
10."Foolish Heart" (live)
  • Garcia
  • Hunter
Garcia11:30
11."Blow Away" (live)
  • Barlow
  • Mydland
Mydland12:02
12."California Earthquake (Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On)" (live)Rodney CrowellGarcia5:59

Personnel

Reissue production

Charts

Album – Billboard

Year Chart Position
1989 The Billboard 200 27[3]

Singles – Billboard

Year Single Chart Position
1989 "Foolish Heart" Mainstream Rock Tracks 8[4]

RIAA Certification

Certification Date
Gold[5] January 3, 1990

References

  1. ^ Ruhlman, William. "Built to Last". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Grateful Dead". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ "Billboard album chart history-Grateful Dead". Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  4. ^ "Billboard singles chart history-Grateful Dead". Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  5. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database-Built to Last". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
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