Althea (song)
| "Althea" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Grateful Dead | |
| from the album Go to Heaven | |
| Released | April 28, 1980 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 6:51 |
| Label | Arista |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Gary Lyons |
"Althea" is a song by the Grateful Dead, with lyrics written by Robert Hunter and music by Jerry Garcia. It first appeared as the third track on the band's 1980 studio album Go to Heaven. Along with "Alabama Getaway", it is one of only two Garcia–Hunter compositions on the album.
The song was first performed live on August 4, 1979, at the Oakland Civic Auditorium in Oakland, California. "Althea" would hold a steady place in the band's repertoire, being played consistently from its debut to the band's final days in 1995, with its final performance occurring on July 8, 1995, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
When performed in concert, the song almost exclusively appeared in the first set. It was performed over 270 times by the Grateful Dead. "Althea" has been performed by several Grateful Dead offshoots, including Dead & Company, RatDog, and Phil Lesh and Friends.