The Grateful Dead (1965-1995) come with a closet stuffed with many, many skeletons and bearing gifts. The Long Strange Trip triple-CD anthology derives from the 2017 Amir Bar-Lev-directed film documentary. Nearly one third of this 3CD set – in track terms, seven out of 27 – comprises hitherto unreleased performances. It opens in their dirt music phase, with them extemporising the country blues ‘Death Don't Have No Mercy’, captured live in March 1969, followed by their own composition ‘St. Stephen’ recorded the month before. These two tracks' ‘previous’ is 1969's touchstone Live/Dead and the (unlisted) ultra-limited edition 10CD Fillmore West 1969 of 2005. For many, the ear-opener will be the February 1970 Fillmore East ‘Dark Star’. Revealing of their contemporaneous listening habits, instead of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Bill Monroe and Merle Haggard, it points to ‘world music’ influences. In one passage over its 24-minute-or-so journey they switch from improvising atonally to an ‘unscripted’ koto-like interlude. (World Pacific and Nonesuch Explorer releases were prime listening brain-food.) In stark relief, from July 1989 Traffic's ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’, featuring Brent Mydland's powerhouse Steve Winwood-inspired vocals and Hammond B3 sound, slides delightfully into populist territory with The Beatles' ‘Hey Jude’. This anthology is less leftovers and more table spread, smorgasbord-style, with studio and live dishes.