Bob Weir: Ace (1972)

Who knew the Dead had an ace in the hole all along?

Kronomyth 1.0: The ace of pentacles.

Until now, Bob Weir was best known as an occasional songwriter, singer of country songs and eye candy in a band (Grateful Dead) in sore need of only one of those things. Then came Ace. Featuring nine songs, seven of which went on to become classics in the revolving Deadset (Playing in the Band was already part of their live set), Ace was Weir’s trump card played to perfection. Sure, it’s a Grateful Dead album in all but name, featuring the entire band on nearly every track, but—here’s the surprise—it’s a great Grateful Dead album. In fact, it’s the best solo album that any of the Dead members have made. Weir leads with Greatest Story Ever Told, which rocks harder than the Dead have lately and features some outstanding bass playing from Dave Torbert. Black-Throated Wind is the first of five songs co-written with John Barlow, who would serve as Weir’s personal lyricist in a similar role to Robert Hunter. Walk in the Sunshine is the only track to fall into obscurity. Side one closes with Playing in the Band, first premiered on the Grateful Dead live album. Side two is even better. Looks Like Rain is simply one of the prettiest songs to come from Weir and a fine showcase for Barlow’s lyrical gifts. Mexicali Blues reveals Barlow to have a pretty sharp sense of humor too. One More Saturday Night is written entirely by Weir and matches a funky groove to some lyrics about the world ending in one big party. The album closes with Cassidy, a lovely and loving song for a future generation. While it marked the beginning of Bob Weir’s solo career, Ace also marks the end of an era as the last of the classic albums from Grateful Dead. The works that followed were often very good (Terrapin Station was better than good), but look at Aoxomoxoa through Ace (including Jerry Garcia’s 1972 solo album) and you’re looking at a Dead man’s hand.

Original elpee version

A1. Greatest Story Ever Told (Bob Weir/Robert Hunter) (3:42)
A2. Black-Throated Wind (Bob Weir/John Barlow) (5:43)
A3. Walk in the Sunshine (Bob Weir/John Barlow) (3:02)
A4. Playing in the Band (Bob Weir/Robert Hunter) (7:38)
B1. Looks Like Rain (Bob Weir/John Barlow) (6:10)
B2. Mexicali Blues (Bob Weir/John Barlow) (3:24)
B3. One More Saturday Night (Bob Weir) (4:25)
B4. Cassidy (Bob Weir/John Barlow) (3:39)

Original 8-track version
A1. Looks Like Rain
A2. Mexicali Blues
B1. Greatest Story Ever Told
B2. Black-Throated Wind
C1. Walk in the Sunshine
C2.Cassidy
C3. One More Saturday Night (beginning)
D1. One More Saturday Night (conclusion)
D2. Playing in the Band

2CD 50^th anniversary edition bonus live disc
B1. Greatest Story Ever Told
B2. Black-Throated Wind
B3. Walk in the Sunshine
B4. Playing in the Band
B5. Looks Like Rain
B6. Mexicali Blues Intro
B7. Mexicali Blues
B8. One More Saturday Night
B9. Cassidy

The Players

Robert “Ace” Weir (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals), Jerry Garcia (electric guitar, pedal steel guitar B1), Donna Godchaux (harmony, the chick vocals), Keith Godchaux (pianner), William Kreutzmann (drums), Phil Lesh (bass, harmony vocal on B2) with Ed Bogus (string arrangement on B1), Dave Torbert (bass on A1). Produced by everybody involved; recorded by Bob and Betty; mixed by Jerry Garcia and friends.

The Pictures

Covert art by Kelley/Mouse Design. Photography by Ron Rakow.

The Plastic

Released on elpee and 8-track in June 1972 in the US (Warner Bros., BS/M8-2627). Reached #68 on the US charts.

1. Re-issued on elpee in 1986 in the US (Grateful Dead, BS-2627R).
2. Re-issued on compact disc and cassette in 1989 in the US (Grateful Dead, GDCD/GDC-4004).
3. Re-issued on compact disc in October 1995 in the US (Arista, 14004).
4. Re-issued on compact disc on January 4, 2005 in the US (Grateful Dead, 78990).
5. Re-issued on 180g blue vinyl elpee in 2023 (Vinyl Me Please, RCV1 712504).
6. Re-packaged on 2CD in 2023 in the US (Rhino, R2 691486) with bonus live disc.