Ace - BOB WEIR***

Greatest Story Ever Told/Black Throated Wind/Walk In The Sunshine/Playing In The Band/Looks Like Rain/ Mexicali Blues/One More Saturday Night/Cassidy

Ace was the first solo album from the Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Although praised by the critics most of the tracks were backed by Dead members and featured prominently in their live shows. (US:68)

“A quick glance at the track listing and you'd think this was just a Grateful Dead album. Any serious fan will have heard nearly every one of these songs dozens of times over the years at concerts. Unfortunately since this LP is sold as by Bob Weir very few people noticed it is 100% Grateful Dead.”

“This is really a Grateful Dead album; not only do they act as the backing band but most of the songs were absorbed into the set list.”

“This is one of the Dead's strongest and most consistent studio efforts. Looks Like Rain is the gorgeous, moving standout here, with great pedal steel work from Jerry, and the sad resignation of Black-Throated Wind works great with the horn section. Playing In The Band is a fun glimpse of the Dead doing a solid job of emulating their live jams in a studio setting. The fun Greatest Story Ever Told gets the album off to a strong start and Cassidy is a beautiful closer played and sung with great heart.”

“This is for all intents and purposes a Grateful Dead album. The musicians are the members of The Dead, with some help from the occasional horn. The difference is that the songs are all sung, and at least partially composed by Weir. The other element that makes Ace more a group effort than solo affair is that several tracks are more tied to The Dead after becoming live concert standards than Weir songs.”

“The album says Bob Weir, but in fact it is almost purely Grateful Dead, Just about all of these songs would go on to become staples the Dead's live shows. Ace provides a snapshot into what these great tunes sound like in the studio.”

“This is probably the most underappreciated album ever: it is so good and yet, tragically few people know about it. It is an example of killer songwriting, fantastic singing by Bob, with great production and arrangements. Even if you don't like the Dead you'll still like this album. However, if you are a Dead fan, the album is home to some Dead classics.”