In 1972, despite having more than enough new songs, the Dead were reluctant to enter the studio, instead working on capturing definitive versions of their new songs whilst on the road. It was around this time, however, that Bob Weir was finally starting to come into his own as a writer, and so he decided to try his hand at making a solo album. Well, as the sessions were getting underway, it was clear that he needed a band and since he already had the best band for his songs, it became apparent who needed to back him up.
And so it became, that Ace was simultaneously Weir’s solo debut as well as a Grateful Dead album in disguise (albeit one with only Bob songs). Every song from this album went on to be a standard of the Dead’s repertoire for the rest of their run (except for the abysmal “Walk In The Sunshine”), and this album features some of the best studio performances the Dead ever recorded.
Of particular note is the version of “Playin’ In The Band”, which is leagues beyond the concise version released on Skullfuck, and one of the finest versions ever played. Elsewhere, mariachi horns perfectly accentuate “Mexicali Blues” (the ultimate cautionary tale), and soon-to-be classics such as “Cassidy”, “Black-Throated Wind”, and “Greatest Story Ever Told” are introduced in super solid renditions. The beautiful “Looks Like Rain”, in particular, would eventually grow into a majestic beast on stage, but is given a nice, cursory reading here while the fiery take on “One More Saturday Night” was released as a single (credited to the Dead, interestingly) that should have been a hit.
Around this same time, Garcia released his first solo album, which contained several future Dead classics (only Kreutzmann appeared). The songs from that album, as well as this one, and their last two live albums, comprise the most fertile period in the band’s entire history, and provided the songbook with its most vital entries.
Just in time for them to enter into their greatest period as a live band.
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