Box of Rain
While there's been no lack of opportunity to hear the Grateful Dead perform songs co-written by Robert Hunter, live performances by the Dead's elusive lyricist  have been more of a rarity. His 1990 solo-acoustic tour was therefore a major event, and the best of those sold-out gigs are collected on this live album.  A BOX OF RAIN includes intimate, electrifying versions of such classic Dead songs as "Box of Rain," "Scarlet Begonias," "Franklin's Tower," "Ripple," and "Deal" direct from the source.This release marks Hunter's third album for Rykodisc to follow expanded versions of two of Hunter's Round Records albums, TIGER ROSE and TALES OF THE GREAT RUMRUNNERS.  A BOX OF RAIN arrived on the scene in 1991, at a time when interest in the music and lyrics of Hunter and the Grateful Dead was perhaps at an all-time high.  Viking Penguin had recently released A BOX OF RAIN: Collected Lyrics of Robert Hunter.  The book contains all Hunter's lyrics including his Grateful Dead songs and others with introduction, annotations, and a complete discography. That same summer also saw the release by Arista of DEADICATED, an all-star benefit tribute to the Grateful Dead.  Including such remarkable and diverse cover versions as Elvis Costello doing "Ship of Fools," Dwight Yoakam's "Truckin'," and Jane's Addiction doing "Ripple," the album ultimately stands as a testament to the remarkable songwriting skills of the Dead and their longtime lyricist.