All right, I think I’ve got our next musical scapegoat. Thanks to everyone who voted, but I felt most inspired by Matt’s suggestion for ol’ Ace Greybeard Ratboy himself…Bobby Weir.
Bob is a prime example of someone who never fully got their due, or just became known for the cheesy things they did over a massive 40-year music career. Bobby always had to take a backseat to Jerry, and it would be hard to argue that Bob was more talented than Jerry because he just wasn’t. BUT, was Bobby a necessary and captivating part of the Grateful Dead? Yes! Bobby was the palette-cleanser for Jerry songs…on the records and especially at shows. And most of the time, Bobby had some great songs that could inject a little more energy into a Dead show (…think “One More Saturday Night”). And shit, in the final years of the Dead, Bobby was just about the only member that was still playing with any kind of fire.
So I present to you some primo rockin’-out Bobby from his 1972 solo album, Ace, on which all of the Grateful Dead members play, oddly enough. And then there’s a jazzy Bob bonus from Kingfish’s first album in 1976. Bob was a member of the band, Kingfish on their first two albums. Both of these tunes show the power of what Bobby could bring to the table. So do yourself a favor, and hear out this case for Bob Weir…
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mp3 audio: Bob Weir – The Greatest Story Ever Told
mp3 audio: Kingfish – Lazy Lightnin’
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And here’s some relief for the super-cool if you just almost got sick sitting through two Dead-related songs. A little Can should pacify you…
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AAC audio: Can – She Brings the Rain
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