Birth of the Dead is a two-CD compilation album chronicling the early years of the San Francisco psychedelic band the Grateful Dead.

[3] The set was originally part of the twelve-CD box set The Golden Road (1965–1973), released on October 16, 2001,[4] then was released as a stand-alone album on March 25, 2003.

[5] The album consists of various studio and live tracks of seven original songs and a number of covers.

The Scorpio Sessions comprise tracks seven through sixteen of disc one, two of which ("Don't Ease Me In" backed with "Stealin'") were released in limited supply by Scorpio Records, in July 1966, as the band's first single.

The Hendricks Session, consisting of only the song "Fire in the City", was recorded for use in the documentary film Sons and Daughters.