I just picked up one of my all time favorite band's, Los Lobos, latest CD - Tin Can Trust. You know, that lil ole band from East L.A. Some of you may remember they opened for the Dead for several shows in the 80s, that’s what turned me on to them. Besides it being a great album, Robert Hunter has two song writing credits on it. One is on the track All My Bridges Burning, and the other is their awesome interpretation of West L.A. Fade Away. Highly recommend the album, or anything else from Los Lobos.
There's an interview with David Hidalgo in the Nov 2010 Guitar Player. A short excerpt:
What prompted you to cover the Grateful Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway”?
I was aware of the Dead since the beginning, but it wasn’t until the Live/Dead album came out that the light really went on for me. That version of “St. Stephen” into “The Eleven” into “Turn on Your Love Light” floored me. Jerry Garcia became one of my favorites. I first met him in 1984, when he showed up at one of our gigs along with Carlos Santana. They took turns playing my spare ES-335. Afterwards, Jerry gave me a ’58 Stratocaster. I couldn’t believe it.
Did you use it for this recording?
No. I was already in the middle of recording with a Les Paul when I realized I should have played Jerry’s Strat. Anyway, that’s how our affiliation with the Grateful Dead started. A few years later we did a weekend opening for them at Laguna Seca. We invited Jerry to play with us. He returned the favor by bringing me up to play “West L.A. Fadeaway,” so that’s the connection.
