Robert Hunter: Tales Of The Great Rum Runners [2CD]
“I considered myself a folksinger, and then we all became bluegrass musicians. When it turned rock and roll, I turned to my typewriter.” - Robert Hunter, The Golden Road, 1984
And we're certainly glad he did! We're confident you're familiar with the tremendous impact of songwriter and lyricist Robert Hunter's work with the Grateful Dead. He may have been the sixth member unseen, but his contribution to their songs stands testament to their everlasting effect on generations of Dead Heads. Now we're offering up the chance to explore Hunter's 1974 solo debut, one that Rolling Stone once called "perhaps the most interesting solo album to emerge from the Dead’s quirky ambit." Hear it for yourself with the 50th anniversary edition of TALES OF THE GREAT RUM RUNNERS due June 7th.
TALES OF THE GREAT RUM RUNNERS (DELUXE EDITION) introduces a freshly remastered version of the original album alongside 16 previously unreleased recordings, including alternate versions of album tracks and several session outtakes. All the music has been remastered from the original master tapes by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glasser using Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction.
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.”)
Yes! It's about time we gave…
Yes! It's about time we gave Robert Hunter some reissue love! I'm thrilled to see this one. Can't wait to hear the unreleased stuff.
Great news !
I didn't see this one coming either, but it is most welcome.
Weirdly (of course)
Some have bemoaned the stingy release of studio outtakes and alternate takes of the 50th anniversary GD albums. I think there's some merit to that point, in other words, I would have purchased those 50ths if they'd filled out the original album CD with outtakes and still added the live addenda.
With Hunter, for me, it's the reverse - we need a few well-recorded Hunter solo shows rather than unreleased songs and outtakes. I actually really dig Hunter's albums and I have a few. But at this point, they need to unearth a few of his solo shows. I caught a classic one at the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver in maybe 1980? And it was killer. Also caught the Dinosaurs when they rolled through the same venue a year or two later.
Stingy Studio Outakes?
Hendrix, You’re not forgetting The Angle’s Share series, are you?
Agreed on the live Hunter material. Bring that on!
Book
Another website shows two hardback versions of the book. Published by Hachette and Constable. They are due out two days apart in October but one has approximately 50 pages more than the other. Perhaps they are sized differently with more text per page on the larger version?
I notice there are two tracks not mentioned on the LP version of the album, Mad and Elijah, they should be B5 and C2 on the track listing but these labels are missing. Are they really missing or is the track listing incorrect?
Dinosaurs
I would like to see some live cds by them released. I got one officially released double cd many years ago, a studio and live disc, but I remember having some tapes - I can't remember what dates they were from, that eclipsed both of them by some distance.
I have always liked the rough and ready sound of "Rumrunners", as well as the songs themselves. My favourite of the few Robert Hunter albums I have.
Hunter opens for Garcia
I saw Hunter open for Garcia down at Keystone Palo Alto. Hunter said I remember when this place used to be a grocery store, we used to shop lift here. Great show.
Rumrunners Ahoy!
ARRrrrrrrrrghH! Permission to come aboard?
Aye, Aye! Pre~Order away, mate.
P.S. I suppose Tiger Rose is on-deck for 2025?!
Rumrunners Ahoy!
ARRrrrrrrrrghH! Belay my last! Computer error this posted twice.
Double post
RYXS- hey don't knock it, at least you got a post on here! I would get an anniversary edition of "Tiger Rose". Great cover, too.
Robert Hunter at a Siding - Facebook Group discussion.
“Robert Hunter’s collaborations with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead are the most heartening examples of user-friendly American existentialism in American literature.” - Aesthetics of the Grateful Dead.