Built to Last explained

Built to Last
Type:	Album
Artist:	The Grateful Dead
Cover:	Grateful Dead - Built to Last.jpg
Alt:	The Grateful Dead build a house of cards.
Released:	October 31, 1989
Recorded:	February 1 – October 20, 1989
Studio:	Club Front (San Rafael, CA) Skywalker Ranch (San Rafael, CA) Studio X (Petaluma, CA)
Label:	Arista
Prev Title:	Dylan & The Dead
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Without a Net
Next Year:	1990

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.

Personnel

Grateful Dead

• Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals
• Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
• Brent Mydland – keyboards, vocals
• Phil Lesh – bass
• Bill Kreutzmann – drums
• Mickey Hart – drums, percussion

Production:

• John Cutler – producer, engineer
• Tom Flye – engineer
• Justin Kreutzmann – engineer
• Peter Miller – engineer
• David Roberts – engineer
• Jeff Sterling – engineer
• Chris Wiskes – engineer

Bonus tracks production

• "Foolish Heart" – recorded live at Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, WI on July 19, 1989 (see also Fallout from the Phil Zone & Downhill from Here for more from this date)
• "Blow Away" – recorded live at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia on July 7, 1989
• "California Earthquake (Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On)" – recorded live at The Spectrum in Philadelphia on October 20, 1989

Reissue production

• David Lemieux – reissue producers
• James Austin – reissue producers
• Reggie Collins – liner notes
• Blair Jackson – liner notes
• Sheryl Farber – editorial supervision
• Cameron Sears – executive producer
• Joe Gastwirt – mastering, production consultant
• Tom Flye – mixing
• Robert Gatley – mixing assistant
• Hugh Brown, Steve Vance – art coordinator
• Jimmy Edwards – associate producer
• Robin Hurley – associate producer
• Hale Milgrim – associate producer
• Scott Pascucci – associate producer
• Eileen Law – research
• Vanessa Atkins – project assistant
• Steven Chean – project assistant
• Bill Inglot – project assistant
• Jeffrey Norman – project assistant
• Randy Perry – project assistant
• John McEntire – coordination
• Ken Friedman – photography
• Herbert Greene – photography
• Maude Gilman – artwork
• Greg Gyuricsko – artwork
• Dan Healy – concert sound
• Alton Kelley – direction, cover art
• John McEntire – coordination
• Billy Candelario – crew
• Steve Parish – crew
• Harry Popick – crew
• Robbie Taylor – crew

Charts

Album – Billboard

Singles – Billboard

RIAA Certification

References

1. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=grateful dead|chart=all}} ''Billboard'' album chart history-Grateful Dead]. March 1, 2009.
2. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=grateful dead|chart=all}} ''Billboard'' singles chart history-Grateful Dead]. March 1, 2009.
3. Web site: RIAA Gold & Platinum database-Built to Last. . February 28, 2009.