On his debut album, supported by several members of
the Grateful Dead
and other Bay Area musicians,
Robert Hunter
demonstrated the musical and lyrical approach that had made his co-compositions with
Jerry Garcia
the best of
the Dead's
original material.
Hunter's
poetic language was redolent with a rustic Americana of roads, rivers, roses, and rain, and if his melodies lacked
Garcia's
grace and the backup lacked
cohesion, nevertheless this was identifiably music in the
Dead
vein. Hunter was an uncertain singer, alternately straining for a higher register reminiscent of
Garcia
and half-talking in a deeper voice that seemed more natural and advantageous to his lyrics. The album was overly ambitious musically, ranging from folk ballads to rockers and horn-filled raveups, along with barroom choruses and Scottish airs. But
Hunter
demonstrated he was more than just a lyricist. (Originally released on
Round Records label in 1974; reissued by Rykodisc on March 30, 1990, with some of the tracks re-edited.) ~ William Ruhlmann