[S>F Freak]

Its all about the imagery. Hunter/Garcia have created a parallel universe where the listener is at the card game (Deal - Loser), in the cabin when the wolf shows up, knows exactly what Scarlet looks like, etc.

Thats said, I agree the GD aren't the GD without the Wier/Barlow tunes. Some I could definately do without, but others are vitally necessary.

I think of it in terms of the trip...Garcia/Hunter take you to the far outs,Wier and Barlow bring you back.

[gr8fulbluz]

Weir was not as prolific, so his songs tended to get repeated more often in concert, which would bring groans, but they're good songs.

I had never thought of it that way. But it is true and I really like some unpredictability in a run of shows, less repeats the better.

That said, I was always more of a Garcia-Head than a Deadhead.
Still, I luv a Bobby's Bucket as an upbeat warm me soul kind of thing. Or any other upbeat Bobby tune or cover. They are good tunes for sure.

So I guess it is a package deal, and I would not want it any other way.

Heck, I still listen to 'Ace' quite alot and enjoy it. Did I just say that? I better listen to some JGB today.

[wisedyes]

I guess I'll throw in my $.02 here. They both have songs I absolutely love, and a few that made me cringe. I think Weir's tunes, especially the later ones, are not as easily accesible at first. However, Jerry's later tunes, with a few exceptions, I thought were rather weak and uninspired, and started to sound very derivative of himself. Bobby's compositions, though less in output, were always more "unique".

I love 'em both. But, I guess, as a deadhead, I like Garcia/Hunter a bit more. As a musician, I prefer Weir/Barlow.

[tigerstrat]

I like MOST Garcia AND Lesh (I feel he deserves to be a part of thus discussion for sure) tunes a little better than MOST Weir tunes, but its all Grateful Dead to me.

[qiuniu]

Always thought Bobby was making songs hard just so they sounded sophicated. Always thought Jerry was writing songs he could remember. The Bobby songs in the '90s were just too much for me, too many and too complicated, not good dance toons.

I always liked the combo of Jerry and Bobby both though, both brought something different to the table, but the Jerry songs are the ones the public always remembers.

Ratdog these days is hot and very danceable and leaving off a lot of those harder songs. JGB always was good.

[acidrain30005]

There's realy only a few Garcia-Hunter songs that I dislike. "China Doll" and "High Time". And as of now, being a budding musician, I prefer more complex songs. But I'll take a "Ripple" over "Victim or the Crime" any time.

[Chief5959]

I think both sets of writers are critical to the dead's menu. That being said I would go with Garica/Hunter if I had to choose. I think that Weir's songs (Cassidy, Music Never Stopped) serve up interesting non traditional structures. On the lyrical side Weir/Barlow were often heavy handed. The line about "streetcats" in Looks Like Rain still makes me cringe 30 years on.

[Shooster]

The line about "streetcats" in Looks Like Rain still makes me cringe 30 years on.

Amen! That line has always seemed so wrong and out of place to me.

Personally, I dig Bobby songs alot, the music structures are often complicated but I'm more of a musician and not much of a dancer so I appreciate them alot.

I really do get sick of the Robert Hunter old west gambling songs after a while ( a reoccuring motif), and I thought later Jerry songs were just so weak (i.e. Liberty, Built to Last, etc.)

Just my opinion.

[LaughingBones]

Garcia/Hunter for the mood

Weir/Barlow and Weir/Hunter for energy

agree with that statement

[G'Dad]

My initial reaction would be Garcia/Hunter but when I think of Looks Like Rain, Cassidy, Let It Grow and Lost Sailor/Saint Of Circumstance its maybe a tighter call for me than I first thought.

So I guess that when comparing the best of each there may not be a lot in it, but I do think there are more Weir/ Barlow songs that do nothing for me so Garcia/Hunter must edge it.

I guess it’s just all different colours that make up a wonderful tapestry, like the band itself.

[BlobWeird]

Weir/Barlow make some crazy ass stuff up and where it comes from who the hell knows but I love it. BUT I love Garcia/Hunter more. I love the simplicity of the melody. Its alot catchier when its simplistic, usually. As of lately though Ive been in a JGB kick. Cant get enough of Jerry. Mission in the Rain is soooo badass!

[Shaggy]

It's harder to write a simple song.

Certainly ones that are catchy and stand the test of time.

[hobbsy]

I love the weir/barlow stuff. Everyone seems to me to lean towards Jerry and Hunter but as a post 8/9/95 head I really dig bobby. His musicianship partnered with Barlow's lyrics get me every time. Weather Report/Let it Grow, Estimated, BTW, Mexicali, LLR (though the streetcat line is a little much), Victim...are you kidding? Those are great songs and I enjoy them every bit as much as the Hunter/Garcia efforts. And I love Hunter/Garcia tunes!

By the way AcidRain, how can you NOT like High Time??!! Shame! LOL!!!

"Nothing's for certain. It can always go wrong."

[Jimkkc]

I wonder if Victim would sound "better" in a altered tuning - I'm thinking dadgad down a step (CGCFGC) or maybe even Leo Kottke's new standard (Standard dropped all the way to C#) - just thinking out loud.

[acidrain30005]

I had a feeling my comment on "High Time" would piss some people off. Lol.