Ace (Bob Weir album)
Encyclopedia
Ace was the first solo album by Grateful Dead
rhythm guitarist Bob Weir
, released in 1972.
Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records
label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia
's Garcia
and Mickey Hart
's Rolling Thunder
. In the case of Ace, Weir's backing band was essentially the Dead itself (minus Ron "Pigpen" McKernan), and all songs except "Walk in the Sunshine" became concert staples of the Dead. In a way, Ace and Garcia can be considered Dead studio albums during a live album
era that included Skull & Roses and Europe '72
.
"Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Playing In The Band" also appears on Hart's Rolling Thunder, as "The Pump Song" and "The Main Ten" respectively, both of which were also sung by Weir.
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
rhythm guitarist Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
, released in 1972.
Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
's Garcia
Garcia (album)
Garcia is Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia's first solo album, released in 1972.Warner Bros. Records offered the Grateful Dead the opportunity to cut their own solo records, and Garcia was released during the same time as Bob Weir's Ace and Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder...
and Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
's Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder (album)
Rolling Thunder is the first solo album by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.Although Hart had temporarily left the Grateful Dead at the time he made Rolling Thunder, members of the Dead play on the album, along with a number of other well-known musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area music scene...
. In the case of Ace, Weir's backing band was essentially the Dead itself (minus Ron "Pigpen" McKernan), and all songs except "Walk in the Sunshine" became concert staples of the Dead. In a way, Ace and Garcia can be considered Dead studio albums during a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
era that included Skull & Roses and Europe '72
Europe '72
Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
.
"Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Playing In The Band" also appears on Hart's Rolling Thunder, as "The Pump Song" and "The Main Ten" respectively, both of which were also sung by Weir.
Side One
- "Greatest Story Ever Told" (Weir, HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, HunterRobert Hunter (lyricist)Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
) – 3:43 - "Black-Throated WindBlack-Throated Wind"Black-Throated Wind" is the second track from Bob Weir's solo debut Ace. The song was written by Weir and lyricist John Perry Barlow about the experiences Barlow had on a road trip from New York to San Francisco in 1971...
" (Weir, BarlowJohn Perry BarlowJohn Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
) – 5:42 - "Walk in the Sunshine" (Weir, Barlow) – 3:05
- "Playing in the BandPlaying in the Band"Playing in the Band" is a Grateful Dead song. The lyrics were written by Robert Hunter and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir composed it. The song first emerged in embryonic form on the self-titled 1971 live album Grateful Dead...
" (Weir, Hart, Hunter) – 7:38
Side Two
- "Looks Like Rain" (Weir, Barlow) – 6:12
- "Mexicali BluesMexicali Blues (song)"Mexicali Blues" is a song from Bob Weir's 1972 Ace solo album that, like the rest of the material on that record, was de facto by the Grateful Dead. Indeed it appears on the 1974 Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead compilation....
" (Weir, Barlow) – 3:28 - "One More Saturday NightOne More Saturday Night (song)"One More Saturday Night" is a song written by Bob Weir and performed by the Grateful Dead. Weir is credited with writing "One More Saturday Night", although there is evidence that the song was originally written with Robert Hunter, with different lyrics...
" (Weir) – 4:31 - "CassidyCassidy (song)"Cassidy" is a song written by John Barlow and Bob Weir and performed by the Grateful Dead, Ratdog and Phil Lesh & Friends. The song appeared on Bob Weir's Ace, The Grateful Dead's Reckoning and Without a Net albums....
" (Weir, Barlow) – 3:41
Personnel
- Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
– Lead Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars - Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
– Lead Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar on "Looks Like Rain", Backup Vocals on "Greatest Story Ever Told" - Phil LeshPhil LeshPhillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
– Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals on "Mexicali Blues" - Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
– Drums, Percussion - Keith GodchauxKeith GodchauxKeith Richard Godchaux was a musician best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead.-Biography:Keith Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Concord, California...
– Piano, Organ - Donna Jean Godchaux – Backup Vocals on "Greatest Story Ever Told", "Walk In The Sunshine", "Playing In The Band", and "Cassidy".
- Dave TorbertDave TorbertDave Torbert was a Bay Area musician, best known for his associations with the Grateful Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage. He played bass for the latter group, replacing Phil Lesh during the sessions for their first album...
– Bass Guitar on "Greatest Story Ever Told" - Snooky Flowers, Luis Gasca, and the Space Rangers – Horns on "Black-Throated Wind", "Mexicali Blues", and "One More Saturday Night"
- Ed Bogus – String Arrangements on "Looks Like Rain"