The devil made me listen: #18 "Friend of the Devil" The Grateful Dead (1970)

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Has any other rock group enjoyed the kind of loyal fan following the Grateful Dead did with the Dead Heads? The Dead were never hitmakers or big album sellers. Their power was live performance and the Dead were top concert draws for decades. One of their most popular songs in concert was “Friend of the Devil.” “A friend of the devil is a friend of mine If I get home after daylight, I might get some sleep tonight” From the album “American Beauty,” “Friend of the Devil” was written by Jerry Garcia, John Dawson and Robert Hunter and not released as a single. The song is about an outlaw on the run getting help from the devil only to have the devil join in the chase. There is a soft folkie sound to the acoustic tune with Garcia singing. “Friend of the Devil” has been covered by Tom Petty, Loggins & Messina, Ozzy Osborne, Counting Crows, Lyle Lovett and New Riders of the Purple Sage.