January 22nd, 2026

I really hate that it has taken me so long to say this on here but REST IN PEACE BOBBY WEIR. Thank you for the music.

I wish I posted on here more often, and I hope to eventually get back to a regular schedule. In the meantime, I think it would be fun to post every now and again and feature fewer words, more music. Maybe once a month? Maybe more? Who knows. Today though, I wanted to focus on the Dead in remembrance of Bob Weir. I’m still super bummed by his passing. He was perfectly weird and such a positive light in the music world. I would’ve loved to have sat down with him for a few hours. He seemed to be the kind of guy that could talk about anything.

Cool story – https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/17/bob-weir-stinson-beach-stranded-sailboat/

Jack Straw (Live in Paris) – The Grateful Dead – from “Europe ’72”

Starting off with maybe my favorite Weir-penned song of the Dead’s, and one of the first Dead songs I heard that made me want to take the long, strange trip of becoming a fan. I debated between this version and the one from Cornell ’77, but ultimately went with this one for no reason other than I listened to it more recently. If you want a longer, jammier rendition, check out the Cornell ’77 track.

Europe ’72 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NqggeXq6ms&list=RD9NqggeXq6ms&start_radio=1

Cornell ’77 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNSVVZmlxt4&list=RDQNSVVZmlxt4&start_radio=1

Turn on Your Love Light – the Grateful Dead – from “Live/Dead” (1969)

Not a Weir song at all, really; more Pigpen-centric, but an outstanding representation of this era of the Dead. That being said, if you can lock in to Bob’s rhythm playing on this one, it’s pretty great.

Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4-T2sL_YVQ&list=RDb4-T2sL_YVQ&start_radio=1

The Race is On (Live) – the Grateful Dead – from “Reckoning”

In my post about the Pizza Tapes, I talked about the influence of country music on Jerry Garcia. At some point in the future, I would like to make a post about the influence of country and western on the Dead as a whole, so I won’t speak too much on it here. After being introduced to the Pizza Tapes, I started to seek out the country music covers that the Dead had done, and for a while, that was about as far as I would get into them. Anyhow, the very first one I listened to, and still probably my favorite, is a cover of George Jones’s “The Race Is On.” No one can sing it like George. That is a truly impossible task. That being said, Bobby sings lead on this one, and he does a damn good job. In my opinion, the second-best job behind George. Sawyer Brown, sorry.

Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1swkqvISJg&list=RDa1swkqvISJg&start_radio=1

George Jones – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2-HKlTuoqg&list=RDm2-HKlTuoqg&start_radio=1

The Greatest Story Ever Told (Feat. Tyler Childers) (Live) – Bobby Weir and the Wolf Bros

My favorite song from Bobby’s solo albums. (The true “solo” albums) I love biblical references in music, and this song was no doubt at least partially inspired by the film of the same name. To have an official version released (albeit on a deluxe version) featuring one of my favorite voices in all of country music on lead vocals is just too damn cool for me. Tyler Childers rips so hard, man.

Tyler vocals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tyn-ZqmoWM

Original – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfn2CKDO70Y&list=RDJfn2CKDO70Y&start_radio=1

Only A River – Bob Weir

Powerful stuff here. I get the vibe that this one was written to someone, not for someone, if that makes sense. I think this a great one to end on, but I did also include Bobby’s Tiny Desk concert below. If you’re a fan, can’t recommend it enough. Really cool version of “Bird Song” in there too.

Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aCQcF6fatw&list=RD1aCQcF6fatw&start_radio=1

Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MrDvoj7dT8

Tiny Desk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l_gUwdPrNY&list=RD4l_gUwdPrNY&start_radio=1

Was, and is now, forever one of the grateful dead.

*Note for any Deadheads who stumble upon this. Yes, I know Cassidy is widely considered one of, if not the best, of Bobby’s work. I agree! So don’t shoot me over the lack of inclusion. My favorite version is from Reckoning and I didn’t want to include the same album twice.