[dead ed 65]

Hello! I am a new member but a longtime Dead fan. I was wondering if this topic has ever come up: whose songs do you like better and prefer hearing live, Garcia/Hunter, Weir/Barlow, or covers and/or remakes of traditional American songs?

It seems to me that the Garcia/Hunter selections can be (somewhat) categorized as being a little simpler and straightforward (such as Ripple, Bertha, Deal, etc.), but the Weir/Barlow ones (Black Throated Wind, Estimated, Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance) are more complex, with odd chord changes and complex lyrics (no wonder Bobby forgets his lines).

Then there are the hybrid Hunter/Weir songs, like Jack Straw, that contain elements of the simplicity I mentioned above.

Of course, to me, sometimes it's hard to distinguish between some songs Hunter wrote that sound very similar to reworks of the traditionals. Think Cumberland Blues alongside Jack-a-Roe or Dreadful Wind and Rain.

But is there anyone who prefers a rocking version of a cover, like NFA, The Race is On, Hard to Handle, etc?

I have to say IMHO that the Garcia/Hunter selections are the best, but it's all good.

Thanks for your input!!

[phreaker]

Jack Straw, at the moment, is my favorite song. It's slow, and fast, with great music, and awesome lyrics. I really like the colaborative works for that reason.

I always thought Weir tunes were more "slick" than Garcia tunes. Sugar Mag., and Sat. Night for example.

So in the end...maybe Garcia songs. I dont know the real reason... I'd just choose a Must have Been the Roses over Lazy Lightnin' any day.

[nedcat]

I absolutely love the lyrics of Robert Hunter in conjunction with Jerry Garcia's melodies. I feel so lucky to have been exposed to this chemistry. Hunter's heavy americana and depression-era lingo blow me away every single time.......foldie-roldie riddle!!!

[Shaggy]

What a question!

It's like asking which parent you love most! Heck, we all love them both.

[eyeprod]

yeah, I don't know who can match up to garcia/hunter for incredibly good americana. the best lyricist out there imo.

[grateful4booze]

I know exactly what you mean. Bob Dylan is a great writer, but you don't feel like you are in the great USA when you hear his songs. I am a huge Kinks fan and when you hear Ray Davies's lyrics you want to jump on a plane to London!

[caspersvapors]

Garcia/Hunter for the mood

Weir/Barlow and Weir/Hunter for energy

[strumminsix]

Garcia/Hunter for the mood

Weir/Barlow and Weir/Hunter for energy

Wow that is well said and so simply stated!
I can totally relate!

I love the poetry in Hunters lyrics of the simplier progressions.

I love the complex musical constructs with intelligent Barlow lyrics.

Being a rocker and rhythm guitarist, I prefer Weir/Barlow. However it's like saying what's better to win the lotter and get $100,000,000 or $100,010,000. Both are great and barely a difference!

[abspatz]

garcia/hunter for me! i just saw a DSO show that was based somewhere in the late '80's, and they played alot of Bobby songs that I just could do without. Lost Sailor....Lazy Lightning, and a couple others I dont remember. Give me an Estimated any day of the week, but it seems like some of the other weir/barlow collaborations are just....dare I say....bad? (sorry! just mho!)

[Trystine]

I've tried to bite my tongue on this one but I can't any longer. In short, I agree with the last post. Too many Weir/Barlow songs I could do with out. Many of them come off very corny to me with the exceptions of Estimated, Looks like rain, Mexicali, and maybe black throated wind but even that can be a tough pill to swallow sometimes.

Something common in almost all of Weir's originals is an "earth shattering" crescendo at the end, which, after I noticed it, really got on my nerves.

Weir was always there with some good covers but, as Barlow said himself, Garcia and Hunter are the Grateful Dead.

[strumminsix]

Garcia and Hunter are the Grateful Dead.

Seriously laughing out loud.

That was a joke right?

In my opinion, the GD were a beautiful combination of many things brought together to be something magnificient. The GD was bigger than any one person or one set of collaboraters. The whole is greater....

If you truly believe what you've said you are missing out on many magical moments from the GD.

[Trystine]

Negative my good buddy! Read it in "Conversations With The Dead" interview book. Similar question to the topic we're discussing was asked to Barlow and that was his response.

Obviously, the Dead are more than just Garcia/Hunter but I think what he was trying to say, as well as myself, is at the core of the Grateful Dead Garcia and Hunter stand there greeting people, shaking hands saying how do you do.

[ebick]

Modesty might have played a role in that statement. Would you expect JPB to blow his own horn?

I just can't believe some of the songs mentioned in this thread with negatives attached to them. Hunter/Garcia, Weir/Barlow.....they were different. Both theams were good and produced a lot of the music I grew up listening to and loving.

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.

[strumminsix]

I'll try and leave it at this....

The GD without Weir/Barlow would essentially be like JGB.

JGB didn't move my soul the way the GD did.

In fact JG may not have turned out the way he did with BW. In many interviews he credits Bobby's complex changes for pushing him to the next level of creativity by learning new constructs where some would be open and airy (think supplication jam) while others are tight but don't sound rigid (think Victim/Crime).

In other interviews he credits Bobby's unique rhythm ability that allows the band to really take off.

[dead ed 65]

Ahh, this is exactly the kind of debate I wanted to foster by posting this question. Thanx for all of your replies.

Dead Ed 65