The group picked David Hassinger to produce because he had worked as an engineer on the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow album (the latter on which Jerry Garcia had guested and suggested the album title). Le groupe choisit comme producteur David Hassinger, qui a déjà travaillé pour les Rolling Stones et Jefferson Airplane pour l'album Surrealistic Pillow (auquel a participé Jerry Garcia).
