It was recorded at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, California in late 1966, and released in June 1971.

[2][3][4] Historic Dead was produced as a vinyl LP on the Sunflower label and distributed by MGM Records.

[5] When the label collapsed, MGM paid the debt owed to the studio and assumed the tapes, releasing two original albums of live Dead material.

In 1972 MGM released the compilation The History of the Grateful Dead on their archival imprint Pride.

It is not to be confused with History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One, an album also known as Bear's Choice.