Robert Hunter's work as a solo artist with a deluxe reissue of his 1974 debut, Tales of the Great Rum Runners. While Hunter is widely revered as the primary lyricist for the Grateful Dead, this series will explore the depth of his solo work, offering a renewed appreciation for his exceptional artistry.
Originally released in spring 1974, Tales Of The Great Rum Runners marked the inaugural release on Round Records, an offshoot of the newly formed Grateful Dead Records. Among its 13 tracks were several destined to become staples of Hunter's live repertoire, like “Boys In The Barroom,” “Rum Runners,” and “It Must Have Been The Roses.”
Recorded at Mickey Hart's converted barn studio in Novato, California, the album reveals Hunter's multifaceted talents and features him singing and playing various instruments, including guitar, tin whistle, and bagpipes on “Children's Lament.” He was accompanied by a revolving cast of Bay Area musicians on the album, including Jerry Garcia, Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux, and Mickey Hart of the Dead, as well as guitarist Barry Melton (Country Joe & The Fish), bassist David Freiberg (Quicksilver Messenger Service/Jefferson Starship), and pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage (New Riders Of The Purple Sage).
Tales Of The Great Rum Runners (Deluxe Edition) comes with 16 previously unreleased bonus tracks, offering new insight into the album's evolution. Among these are alternate versions of six songs that made the album (“Keys To The Rain” and “It Must Have Been The Roses”), plus ten gems that did not (“The Word,” “Buck Dancer's Choice,” and “Elijah.”)
Tracks
Disc 1 (Original album 1974)
1. Lady Simplicity - 0:21
2. That Train - 4:37
3. Dry Dusty Road - 2:20
4. I Heard You Singing (David Freiberg, Robert Hunter) - 3:38
5. Rum Runners - 3:07
6. Children's Lament - 4:17
7. Maybe She's A Bluebird - 2:01
8. Boys In The Barroom - 1:09
9. It Must Have Been The Roses - 3:31
10.Arizona Lightning - 3:36
11.Standing At Your Door - 4:33
12.Mad - 4:13
13.Keys To The Rain - 4:16
All compositions by Robert Hunter except track #4
Disc 2 (Previously Unreleased)
1. Boys In The Barroom - 1:12
2. Elija - 2:08
3. The Word - 1:56
4. Rum Runners - 3:10
5. It Must Have Been The Roses - 3:37
6. Road Hog - 2:51
7. Green Briar Song - 2:15
8. Reelin’ And A-Pitchin’ - 3:40
9. Briney Deep - 3:05
10.Children’s Lament - 4:23
11.Lady Simplicity - 0:22
12.Southern Fried Shuffle - 2:29
13.West Virginia Steel Guitar - 2:36
14.Buck Dancer’s Choice - 2:05
15.Boats - 2:23
16.Keys To The Rain - 4:19
Music and Lyrics by Robert Hunter
Musicians
*Robert Hunter - Guitar, Pipe, Vocals
*Barry Melton - Guitar, Vocals
*Bill Steele - Trumpet, Vocals
*Bruce Gapinski - Saxophone, Vocals
*Buddy Cage - Pedal Steel
*Christie Bourne - Castanets, Percussion
*Cornelius "Snookey" Flowers - Saxophone
*David Freiberg - Bass, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals
*David Kessner - Saxophone, Vocals
*Donna Jean Godchaux - Keyboards, Vocals
*Hadi el Sadoon - Trumpet
*James Paris - Guitar, Harp
*Jean Godchaux - Keyboards
*Jeff Slattery - Saxophone, Vocals
*Jerry Garcia - Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer
*John Farey - Saxophone, Vocals
*Keith Godchaux - Keyboards
*Mario Cippolina - Saxophone, Vocals
*Marlee Shubb - Banjo, Mandolin
*Maureen Aylett - Spoons
*Mickey Hart - Drums
*Milt Farrow - Saxophone, Vocals
*Pete Sears - Bass, Keyboards
*Peter Albin - Bass
*Randall Smith - Saxophone, Vocals
*Ray Scott - Saxophone, Vocals
*Richard Shubb - Banjo, Mandolin
*Robbie Stokes - Guitar, Harp
*Rodney Albin - Fiddle, Violin, Vocals
*Steven Schuster - Saxophone
*T. Will Claire - Vocals
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