Workingman’s Dead, the band’s fourth album changed gear considerably and explored their country, blues and folk influences. Moving away from the acid-drenched blues and psychedelia of previous albums, Workingman’s Dead is full of more acoustic, traditional, harmonic songs. Much of the sound of the album has been attributed to the band’s friendship with Crosby, Stills & Nash.
In 1970 the album was voted as Rolling Stone’s ‘Album of the Year’, ahead of Van Morrison’s Moondance and Crosby, Stills & Nash Déjà Vu.