Grateful Dead: Dark Star Evolution

If you’re a fan of the many iterations of Grateful Dead and the epic jam, Dark Star, you’ll appreciate this:

The Grateful Dead spent decades trying to unlock the many mysteries of “Dark Star,” the band’s best-known jam.

The lore around the famously elastic song—”Dark Star” could run anywhere from a few minutes to more than a half-hour—made it an anthem and enshrined its mystique. Decades after it was first played, Canadian composer John Oswald was inspired to make a composite of live performances of “Dark Star” that reflected the song’s evolution over nearly 40 years.

His epic remix, first released in 1994 under the title “Grayfolded,” will be reissued Tuesday as a set of three records. The initial release sold more than 80,000 copies on CD. Now, reverting to an older format, Mr. Oswald’s handiwork—which clocks in at 110 minutes and draws from 105 live performances—is coming out on vinyl from Important Records of Groveland, Mass.

Here are some versions of Dark Star to get you ready for Oswald’s remix.