Robert Hunter, The Grateful Dead and Jim Lauderdale
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Jim Lauderdale talks about his friendship with Robert Hunter.
You should check out Jim's new record, :My Favorite Place" and tell him Otis sent ya!
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In the late 80s I used to hang with Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller when they played beach clubs near Los Angeles and Santa Monica. A decade later we all ended up in Nashville. Jim came to Spence Manor, where I live, and wrote numerous times with a songwriter in Suite 207. After an extended stay, the guest checked out and left me two classic studio music stands, a VHS VCR and a boombox. His name was Robert Hunter, lyricist for The Grateful Dead.
Jim had the greatest parents ever! His dad was a minister and his mom was a public school chorus teacher. Just wonderful people and supportive of their kids. What a great basis for a stellar career in the music business!
I love these digressive, rambling conversations and I appreciate that you just let people talk without feeling the need to do heavy handed editing. It feels more like you're just hanging out.
Great to hear Jim talk about Hunter. Nice to have more background on how they wrote together. Not really an interview, as Otis barely says a word. No disrespect, clearly he makes his subjects comfortable enough that they just open up. Thanks for bringing this to us.
Jim is my spirit guide, his Sirius XM radio show has been such an education. Buddy and Jim blow my mind almost every week. I hope they get Otis on there one day!
Stellar! Jim has quietly influenced us for decades and is a treasure beyond compare
Hunter was just an incredible wordsmith. Weaving his love of classic literature and poetry into the imagery he would create was seemingly so easy for him. The stories of him cranking out multiple incredible songs in an afternoon have always seemed like a super power to me. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but I was able to talk backstage with Bob Weir at a RatDog show around 2005ish in Royal Oak MI and while we mostly talked guitars I could have spent the whole time talking about Hunter and John Perry Barlow. The symbiosis between the songwriters and musicians was so powerful for them.
Otis, you and Jim have done it again, I am a huge fan of the work of Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia together. Workingman’s Dead was a revelation for me. Box of Rain is one of my favorite songs. Black Peter, Dire Wolf, Wharf Rat, Brokedown Palace, Eyes of the World, Uncle John’s Band, and Candy Man, and many more… what a long, strange trip it’s been! When it comes to lyrics, beyond the earlier lyricists in the “American songbook”, I admire the craft of Robert Hunter, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Webb, Joanie Mitchell, Neil Young, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Pete Townsend, Paul Williams, Ray Davies, Mick Jagger (I think he’s underrated, I rarely see him mentioned as a lyricist), Chrissie Hynde - these are some of my favorites!
A treasure Jim Lauderdale Robert Hunter and The Grateful Dead, thanks to both for sharing.
It is so awesome to hear musicians and their stories. Thanks, Jim, and to all, making this video happen❤
I only saw Robert Hunter perform once ... at a theater in Chicago, 1990 I think. I was getting chills during the whole show. Just Hunter and his acoustic guitar had the whole place transported.
You should check out Jim's new record, :My Favorite Place" and tell him Otis sent ya!
www.jimlauderdalemusic.com/
Headed for the Hills is an absolutely spectacular and underrated album. I was so glad to hear that many sections of this interview were focused on this piece of work. The lineup is absolutely amazing and the production is wonderful. In my opinion, it's the pinnacle of Jim's work with Robert both lyrically and musically. It's an album that grows with you like a family keepsake. You'll cherish it. You'll share it with others that have genuine affection for good music, and you'll return to it over and over again. My wife and I met when it was brand new and we both absorbed it together. My kids sang along to it on long road trips. We still enjoy it on sublime evenings while we're cooking dinner or enjoying a drink on the porch. A quintessential, classic American album. Thank you, Jim and Robert, and thank you Otis for this wonderful interview.
Was going to say the same. Last I checked, it wasn’t on the streaming services. But, it was available on Bandcamp. It really is a fantastic record. I have a ton o’ respect for Jim. He’s one of the best melody writers around . Very unique combination of innovative and familiar. Little irony here: he talks about being a bit shy and not wanting to overstep boundaries. I have the same affliction, in the extreme. I had occasion to be around Jim once. Wish I’d been brave enough to share some lyrics or ask him to sing a tune with me for grins. Anywho, Headed for the Hills in a great album and he’s a true dude.
As a deadhead, I found this priceless to listen to.
Thank you, Otis 🙏🏻
Looks like I have some rabbit holes to explore... much appreciated.
I can't say I'm a Deadhead, but I do like a good many songs of theirs.
Be good to you 🙏🏻🤍
In 1973 I was writing a treatise on the gambler and outlaw in American music and I wrote Robert Hunter asking for an interview. He wrote me back saying he didn’t (at that time) do interviews but did say maybe he was using the gambling motif a little too much. Not for me. He was a magnificent talent and let’s not forget he wrote words for Dylan too. Listen to the river…
Great show Otis ! We saw Jim and his band at the Floyd Country Store recently. He's a fantastic entertainer and musician. And a really nice, humble person.
Otis you never let the people down, yet another stellar interview!
Pure gold, this interview. I played Jim Lauderdale's record Every Second Counts constantly starting in the summer of 1995, and on into 1996. I was going through a rough patch then, and then Jerry Garcia died that August complicating things even more in my head, but that record changed my perspective on a lot of things in life, and I'm forever grateful for that.
Thanks again, Otis. (and Jim Lauderdale)
hey Otis, thanks. nice job as always.
i have a quick Hunter story. seems bob unknowingly took a Very Heavy dose of bear owsley's acid once upon a time, Very Heavy, we're talking industrial strength, professional tripping, military grade lsd. (if you're an older head like me . . . you know what i am talking about. bear made the best.)
anyway, as anyone would after ingesting that much "product", bob paid some heavy dues for a few days.
fast forward, years later, hunter was backstage at a dead show. someone asked if he wanted to take a dose? hunter's response in declination, as only hunter could phrase it . . .
"Once you've been burned by the Sahara, it's hard to be enthusiastic about getting a suntan."
thanks again otis,
salud de mexico (cheers from mx)
So many great times at Dead shows! Always great interviews Otis, love from Texas.
That album, Headed for the Hills is a real masterpiece. Not available on streaming. Seek it out… Great interview
These are seriously great discussions! Thanks Otis and Jim!!
Jim is one of my musical heroes. Damn, what an amazing musician and historian of our art.
Love, love, love The Dead, especially Europe 72's 'Brown-eyed Women' and 'Jack Straw'. Agree with Jim, really like Jerry's steel playing.
New Riders of the Purple Sage first(?) lp with the white cover and cactus logo on the front(1971) prob. has Jerry’s best pedal steel playing that i recall hearing. Obviously, American Beauty, etc.. but def.check out that masterpiece…
---- Otis Tour Dates -------
08/25/24. -Peace Dale, Rhode Island. -Roots Hoot
08/27/24 - 08/30/24 -Big Indian, New York
-with Todd Snider and Tim Easton
10/25/24 -Brown County Playhouse -Nashville, Indiana
03/05/25 -TivoliVredenburg -Utrecht, Netherlands
03/06/25 - Cultural Centre De Zeepziederij -Bree, Belgium
03/08/25 -Lutherse Kerk -Groningen, Netherlands
------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------
Jim is very special and talented to be one of the chosen few Robert Hunter would work with.
Thanks Otis
What’s more amazing than all the info you give us, you show great humble people,, decent humans,, when there are so few around
Thanks so much for this interview, Otis. We love Jim and Robert Hunter and Otis in this house!
Wow amazing. Thank you so much from a fellow deadhead. I'm looking up those songs you guys talked about now. Robert Hunter and Ralph Stanley amazing
Bob Dylan called Robert Hunter to help him with lyrics on Bob's album "Together Through Life". I think that sums up how great Robert was.
Didn’t know this and not familiar with that album 🧐
@@flora4908 It's a great album. Give it a spin.
Spectacular video! A National Treasure talking about a National Treasure. Thanks Otis! Your work is valuable and appreciated.
PS Jim’s speech introducing Hunter at Hunter & Garcia’s Songwriters Hall of Fame induction is worth the watch.
Much love to you
Thanks for posting this Otis and thanks for the stories Jim ❤️
Vince Welnick told us a story about writing "Samba in The Rain" with Hunter, echoing the same story of never changing a lyric. Vince had to make it work, even when there seemed to be way too many syllables for the melody. Listen to the recording and you'll hear the run of words that are different from the rest of the lyric.
Thanks Otis and Jim, wonderful hearing about Bob Hunter!
Thanks. Great to listen, as always.
Jerry and Robert collaborations are timeless and beautiful even when touching on the tragic. The only thing that comes close is when Jerry sings Dylan.
❤❤❤
With Hunter being a recluse, Jim must be a special soul to pierce that barrier.
thanks for sharing your experience and insights on working with RH. Good catch Otis
What an experience to be able to write with Robert Hunter.
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Jim’s albums Headed For The Hills and the two with Ralph Stanley are exceptional records imo.
I met Jim one time by chance in an elevator, a great and humble guy.
The records Jim Lauderdale did with Dr. Ralf are absolutely fabulous.
Oh man. This is gonna be sensational. I'm such a massive Hunter fan and rank the musical partnership of Hunter/Garcia right alongside Lennon/McCartney
❤wow you just keep out doing your self thanks man proving your the best
Not to mention Emmylou and Marty
Great interview with JL...
Now that you've talked with two of Lucinda's players, can we anticipate seeing Sweet Lu on your channel?
Bleetstein strikes again!! What a connector and what a generous man... ✌
I had the GD songbook that Jim mentions. Cover (dead jester) and inside artwork by Stanley Mouse. All the songs from Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. They’re rare to find today.
Robert Hunter had, hands down, the greatest gig in rock history. Maybe the guy who played rhythm guitar in the Yardbirds comes close!
i love that Amy Otis art is hanging behind Jim.....
Loved the interview, and learned a lot. I also have a few albums noted to go in search of. I have a question, though, that's puzzled me for years and this seems a good opportunity to pose it. Did Robert ever perform on stage with The Dead? I haven't researched it, yet I'm 72 and don't recall it. If he did, that was rare. It didn't seem odd for decades yet after everyone and their brother sat in with The Dead over the years, why not Robert? He had all the skills required and then some, for sure.. He was also the lyrical Soul of the band. So that's my quiry, who can shed some light on that relationship? Thanks!
"Roll away the morning dew and sweet the winds shall blow". -trad. Sea Shanty I learned from Hunter & became one of a few geezer Dead heads to grok the context of 'Roll Away The Dew'... ;-)
Don't think with the Dead but did sat in with JGB a few times. Google "Tiger Rose" with JGB.
Europe 72 completely blew my mind
I'd like to hear Jim record a version of the the unrecorded Garcia/Hunter song, Believe it or Not
We need these story's to me it's better than the library just come on home😊😊😊😊😊😊❤
Outstanding work OG man
Yeah just look at u now Otis. Lol ❤❤❤❤
Hunter: "Whatever you do, don't change a lyric!". Weir's big mistake...he changed some of Hunter's lyrics on a co-write of their's and Hunter said "We're done", and told John Barlow, "He's all yours"
wow brother otis as i keep playing otis ketchup more videos than dont mention someone in new mexico i gotta get more of these cats on my lil communty radio show lol
What was the Folklore Center in Greenwich Village has evolved into a newer digital Folklore Database provided by Otis and many others who understand the need for keeping the history of this segment of music viable for a future time.
Like many chronicles of historical artifacts financial reward is the caboose with this train of remembrance. It is a heroic journey of work and reporting, not done solely for financial gain and one Don Quixote would understand. ☮
Hey Otis I haven't watched this yet, just happened to see it here, but notifications aren't showing up for your channel.....didn't know if you're aware of that? Seems you mentioned it a while back that some of us may be having trouble with that.
Jim wrote new music for Box of Rain for Hunter? Is that what he meant?
A poem in his book “A Box of Rain”
I’ll take a melody…