RIP R Hunter
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robert-hunter-grateful-dead-dead-889788/
The lyricist who doesn’t play in the band is an interesting case, at least for Rock. There was Pete Brown with Cream/Jack Bruce, Keith Reid for Procol Harum, and King Crimson had Pete Sinfield and then Richard Palmer-James. I’m sure you can come up with others, but probably only Bernie Taupin’s partnership with Elton John is on a par with Hunter and Garcia (and occasionally other GD members.) Hunter could write high-minded stuff that wasn’t pretentious, and had a way with Americana that made originals seem like part of the folk tradition. He lived up to his quote: “What we were doing was almost sacred. The spirit of the times. … there was a time I felt this was the way the world would be going in a spiritual way, and we were an important part of that. I didn’t feel we were a pop music band. I wanted to write a whole different sort of music.” Insofar as lyrics are more explicit than instruments, he made clear the bond between the band and their audience, particularly around the Workingman’s/American Beauty period. When the lyric says “you,” you knew they meant you, personally.
“If I knew the way, I would take you home.”
Barlow & Weir
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Perry_Barlow
35 songs he wrote w/ Bob.....Hunter did 15 w/ Bob
I always kind of thought of Weir/Barlow as the JV squad.
Nice take Alex. Thanks.
I do not agree but we live in the land of the free (right?)
Aw, I'm just kidding. They're more like the number two starter on a penant-winning baseball team. But I still prefer Hunter/Lesh; only one song, but they're batting 1.000..
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RIP R Hunter
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robert-hunter-grateful-dead-dead-889788/
- bill 9-24-2019 4:38 pm
The lyricist who doesn’t play in the band is an interesting case, at least for Rock. There was Pete Brown with Cream/Jack Bruce, Keith Reid for Procol Harum, and King Crimson had Pete Sinfield and then Richard Palmer-James. I’m sure you can come up with others, but probably only Bernie Taupin’s partnership with Elton John is on a par with Hunter and Garcia (and occasionally other GD members.) Hunter could write high-minded stuff that wasn’t pretentious, and had a way with Americana that made originals seem like part of the folk tradition. He lived up to his quote: “What we were doing was almost sacred. The spirit of the times. … there was a time I felt this was the way the world would be going in a spiritual way, and we were an important part of that. I didn’t feel we were a pop music band. I wanted to write a whole different sort of music.” Insofar as lyrics are more explicit than instruments, he made clear the bond between the band and their audience, particularly around the Workingman’s/American Beauty period. When the lyric says “you,” you knew they meant you, personally.
“If I knew the way, I would take you home.”
- alex 9-26-2019 8:05 pm [add a comment]
Barlow & Weir
- Skinny 9-27-2019 12:22 am [add a comment]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Perry_Barlow
35 songs he wrote w/ Bob.....Hunter did 15 w/ Bob
- Skinny 9-27-2019 12:23 am [add a comment]
I always kind of thought of Weir/Barlow as the JV squad.
- alex 9-27-2019 1:07 pm [add a comment]
Nice take Alex. Thanks.
- jim 9-27-2019 2:57 pm [add a comment]
I do not agree but we live in the land of the free (right?)
- Skinny 9-27-2019 9:44 pm [add a comment]
Aw, I'm just kidding. They're more like the number two starter on a penant-winning baseball team. But I still prefer Hunter/Lesh; only one song, but they're batting 1.000..
- anonymous (guest) 9-28-2019 7:16 pm [add a comment]