From The Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) [3CD]

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March 27, 2024 - 7:12am

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Dead Admin

Joined:
April 28, 2021

FROM THE MARS HOTEL (50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION) features remastered audio by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glaser, with Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction. Produced for release by Grateful Dead Legacy Manager and Audio Archivist, David Lemieux, the DELUXE EDITION also includes demos of “China Doll” and “Wave That Flag” – the song that became “U.S. Blues” – as well as a previously unreleased live performance of the Grateful Dead at University of Nevada-Reno on 5/12/1974. As the band filled an outdoor football stadium with epic highs like huge “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider,” Mars Hotel cuts including “U.S. Blues” and classics such as “Brown-Eyed Women,” “Tennessee Jed,” “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Truckin',” “Sugar Magnolia,” a massive wind storm was no match for the Wall of Sound. Designed to improve the listening and performance experience at what were becoming larger gigs and longer, more dynamic and varied sets, the Wall of Sound required 21 stage hands, and underlined the resounding effect the Grateful Dead were having on American audiences and culture at the time, even as the entire operation remained homespun and humble.

Recorded in San Francisco’s Coast Recorders studio, FROM THE MARS HOTEL finds Keith Godchaux particularly shining across a variety of keys, from the “China Doll” harpsichord to the pounding piano on Bob Weir’s “Money Money,” to the churchy organ that elevates “Ship Of Fools.” Lyricist Robert Hunter packs “U.S. Blues” with a barrage of imagery, pop-culture references and sardonic asides – as Canadian author Ray Robertson writes in the 50th Anniversary Edition’s liner notes, it “carries an undeniable whiff of late-capitalism ennui…it’s the most fun you’ll ever have dancing to the end of the American Empire.” Jerry Garcia’s jaunty lead guitar drives bouncing melodies across the LP, while guests include Ned Lagin’s unnerving synth effects on “Unbroken Chain,” Clover member John McFee’s country-rock pedal steel on “Pride Of Cucamonga,” and more.

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August 3, 2024 - 4:34pm

#1

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

5-12-74

Playing now.
Sounds better than any copy I ever had.

‘74 was a good year.
I’ll take all the shows from the year, Dave.
August 3, 2024 - 1:59pm

#2

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

5/12/74

I am impressed - really good show to my ears. It has many of the eccentricities of the year, like they all do, but if you like the year, I would say this was nigh on essential. Which goes for all years, come to to think of it. Great piano from Keith, nice and audible. Jerry on form and a great Truckin'-Other One jam. Possibly less robust than the 1971 and 1978 shows competing for our coin - but probably more up in the clouds.
July 16, 2024 - 2:34pm

#3

hendrixfreak

Joined:
February 26, 2014

I've got a sale going....

My two cents has been discounted to ... a penny for my thoughts. Hey, half off!

The live show here starts off shaky in terms of sound and performance, but halfway through the first disc, the band tightens up and begins to play like they mean it. This is not necessarily a criticism. What many people don't recognize is that without a first set, there's no second set jam frenzy. And, in the first set, the boys (led by Jer, no doubt) learned to remain calm and go about the business of entertaining with first set songs. In this show, they just come across as a bit lethargic. But, they gather themselves and acquit the remainder of the set in fine energy and style, with Jer ripping away. Second set is tasty and no real issues beyond poor Bobby's garbled vocals to TOO.
Happy to have it. And the Mars Hotel LP sounded really good and I enjoyed a chance to revisit it.
Now, about that primal box of '66-'70 that will include the recently (or not so recently) uncovered '68 tapes..............
July 16, 2024 - 3:49am

#4

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

Audio anomalies

These seem to be a feature of officially released 1974 shows - 5/19/74 comes to mind. I have never heard one where they detract from the whole though. Just a characteristic of the year - and it was a great year.
Having said that...I haven't heard 5/12/74 yet. Quietly confident, though
July 15, 2024 - 5:50pm

#5

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

5-12-74

On my second listen.
I originally had this show on cassette, then CD-R, then a torrent, then torrent upgrades. The current copy on my HD is 150221.sbd.miller.

This FTMH 50th bonus is the best sounding version I’ve had.
Glad for the upgrade.
Yes, there are audio anomalies as Oro pointed out, but the show still needed to be released and cutting it down to 2 discs was the right choice in this case.

Now Dave,
Time to announce the October ‘74 Box.
July 12, 2024 - 2:06pm

#6

dmcvt

Joined:
April 4, 2013

anniversary flood

Thanks Oro, no issues here (an inch of rain was all) Alvarhanso over Rutland way saw a little more, the big plume swath stayed north of central axis, Middlebury to Burl, through Stowe, Barre, Plainfield, up to Saint J, 5-6 inches of rain. Some major damage to roads and farm fields, sadly two fatalities. Dozens of households are without power still, lots of washouts, rivers hit flood stage but are heading down. Small scale compared to TX but we are a small state. People talking about the new normal, freaked that it was exactly one year ago to the day for last flood.
July 12, 2024 - 12:51pm

#7

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

More 74 lol

Ha, I knew someone would comment on “worst” comment.
Didn’t mean to cloud anyones fun, I’m just an old tech freak who finds it all fascinating etc, and sometimes ya know, ya gotta grease the rails a little ; )
We need more good conversation round here.

I don’t really know them well enough, and I haven’t heard many Dicks in fo ever…Hell, since I’ve been on my “quest” I hardly listen to released stuff at all.
Saving for after my quest when I can freak freely lol
Really, after first time virgin full sit down etc, I usually don’t listen that critically, normally. If the playing is hot, I just float with it. But you can’t undo training and when somethings weird, it’s hard to not hear it. Like if it’s decent or good, I don’t notice as much, but if somethings off, it sticks out like a sore thumb, if that makes sense? It can be a curse sometimes.

I love DaP 9, probably for that big scary DS!
Man, I’m on DaP 34 today, NOW that one’s sweet!
Hadn’t spun this one in awhile, Good Sheet Mon!

So, to clarify, my comments were about the audio/recording, not so much the show. Now, they all can’t be the best, and this one is looser than most 74, but it does have some moments to be sure, and you can tell their having fun!
I love in A&A when some are ready to return to the song, but the rest are like, nope, “we ain’t done yet” lol think it happens more than once! Rocking good fun fo sho!
Onward!
Great WE All!

Oh, almost forgot. DMCVT, guess lightning dies struck twice.
Hope y’all are ok and keeping dry! Alvar too, believe he’s up there now also?
Keeps on raining, the levee gonna break…
July 12, 2024 - 9:04am

#8

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Reno

They set the bar pretty high with the 50 Anniversary releases of Working Mans Dead and American Beauty. Hard to live up to those 71 Port Chester shows.

Still need to listen to the Reno show on the home system. Appreciate the insight OB, Crow and others.
July 12, 2024 - 9:01am

#9

dmcvt

Joined:
April 4, 2013

Oro Agreed

Thanks for the summer 74 series recap, good reminder of a few shows to check out. Did not have a copy of FTMH here, so glad to have the remaster which sounds "lush". Yes, 5/12 is rough, especially first disc, uneven variable levels, indeed piano oversaturated, ouch, but they are going for it. The second disc decided improvement, some nice jamming. I wrote it off to historical interest, this was the first outdoor WoS show, correct? Worst ever,? Naw, seem to recall a couple DiP that were muddy and compressed. DaP9, two days later in Missoula also started out a bit rough though overall, better recording. Speaking of saturation, I get my first taste of live Phish next weekend in MA, Fallon elevator appetizer.
July 12, 2024 - 8:42am

#10

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

I say

5 12 74 rocks

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Dead Store Products

FROM THE MARS HOTEL (50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION) features remastered audio by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer David Glaser, with Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction. Produced for release by Grateful Dead Legacy Manager and Audio Archivist, David Lemieux, the DELUXE EDITION also includes demos of “China Doll” and “Wave That Flag” – the song that became “U.S. Blues” – as well as a previously unreleased live performance of the Grateful Dead at University of Nevada-Reno on 5/12/1974. As the band filled an outdoor football stadium with epic highs like huge “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider,” Mars Hotel cuts including “U.S. Blues” and classics such as “Brown-Eyed Women,” “Tennessee Jed,” “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Truckin',” “Sugar Magnolia,” a massive wind storm was no match for the Wall of Sound. Designed to improve the listening and performance experience at what were becoming larger gigs and longer, more dynamic and varied sets, the Wall of Sound required 21 stage hands, and underlined the resounding effect the Grateful Dead were having on American audiences and culture at the time, even as the entire operation remained homespun and humble.

Recorded in San Francisco’s Coast Recorders studio, FROM THE MARS HOTEL finds Keith Godchaux particularly shining across a variety of keys, from the “China Doll” harpsichord to the pounding piano on Bob Weir’s “Money Money,” to the churchy organ that elevates “Ship Of Fools.” Lyricist Robert Hunter packs “U.S. Blues” with a barrage of imagery, pop-culture references and sardonic asides – as Canadian author Ray Robertson writes in the 50th Anniversary Edition’s liner notes, it “carries an undeniable whiff of late-capitalism ennui…it’s the most fun you’ll ever have dancing to the end of the American Empire.” Jerry Garcia’s jaunty lead guitar drives bouncing melodies across the LP, while guests include Ned Lagin’s unnerving synth effects on “Unbroken Chain,” Clover member John McFee’s country-rock pedal steel on “Pride Of Cucamonga,” and more.

Conjecture for those of us who think this deeply

2025

60th anniversary of Magoo's

Big event with big releases question mark

I want a Magoo's Pizza Parlor T shirt

:)))

2024 Box

I would love a Dark Star themed box set, with at least 15 shows. If not that....I wouldn't like anything more than '69 - '70. Except maybe those leftover multi-tracks from '71. I've been revisiting those on headphones lately - the audio is really as good as it gets.

BOXSET...

FANTASIES...? since y'all are sharing...how's about a box from JUST one day in GOGD history...like maybe...

MARCH 31st 1968 / 1973 / 1980 / 1985 / 1989 / 1991 / 1993 / 1994

lots of different tunes, covers all the band iterations & players except TC
awesome shows.. aims to keep the DH's smiling
hahaha!

UncleT

I like that

I couldn't resist...

looking back to see when the last five boxes dropped. Calculate in 90 days prior for an announcement... They're all over the map:

Giants Stadium, Sept. 27, 2029
June '76, March 20, 2020
Listen to River, Oct. 8, 2021
In and Out MSG, Sept. 23, 2022
Sunshine, June 30, 2023

We know Dave & Co. have got the selections made and this project is well underway. I'd put a nickel down on an announcement in June, around when Mars 50 drops. Well, I'm not hurrying through April and May but news of the tsunami coming out the Vault is always welcome.

Great ideas on the box. I'll leave you with one last plea: BRING ON THE GREASE!

Cucamonga

I love Pride of Cucamonga, my favorite tune on Mars. That's the only song that I am aware of, as I search through my 68 yo brain cells, that was on a studio album that was never performed live. I could be wrong, and probably am. Anyone have any clues on why they never performed it live? Heck, they even did "Money, Money" three times!!! Really looking forward to the Bonus and Live stuff on this release.

Hendrixfreak

The one thing we know for sure at this point is it will not be a Spring release. Looking more and more like a fall release.

I am sticking with my earlier prediction of October 74, in spite of the zero chance comments from Doc.
They have the multi track reels. Why not?

Unfortunately, the big zero change box is the Warfield/RCMH 1980 run. My dreams went down in flames on that one a few years ago per Dave's comments.

HF wants the grease

I read that as I listen to a random you t u b e pop-up of 11/29/66

The Same Thing

France....

....I don't think they played that live either.

or...

..Barbed Wire Whipping Party. Not on an official album, but it's here on my ancient "Mountains of the Moon" bootleg of Aoxomoxoa outtakes.

How about a dead.net KTN?

Can't they pre-clear their customers to participate in the Forum?

I make a thoughtful post - as always... - and get Now Hay'd.

Dammit!

Edit: a post DP 50 drop pre-order announcement for a September box. If they can't do primal, let's hope they do a DP of 2-3 CDs of newly discovered 68 tapes.

Box predictions

Dave,
Stop making us prognosticate about this year’s Box.
Just tell us already.

For my next post

(Deleted, due to Hey Now!)

Hey now

That hackneyed phrase needs to get drowned in the pond

What I say is this.

The more you think about your post, the more likely it is to get hey now'd. Talk bollocks, and your in. A bit like in real life. That's my posts I'm talking about, incidentally, not anyone else's.

If the next box is going to be from 1977, then the anticipation of what it could be might be more pleasurable than the actual announcement.

4/4,5,&6/ 69 Avalon Ballroom

This would make a nice little box set.

Box set

I'm plenty excited about what this years offering might be. As much as I love the "best years" I hope they branch out and bring something different, pretty much like they have been doing. Me thinks a lot of folks won't give a paricular era a chance because they've simply been told it's no good.

I hope the DaP series finally taps the Vince Welnick era soon, and folks give it a chance! I know i'm ready!!

rock on, gang!

well...

...Dave gives us the lowdown on planning boxsets in this interview
jambands.com/features/2020/01/07/ready-or-not-david-lemieux [copy and paste]

...so I gotta believe...it's complete, and now the assembly team are just testing which GLUE gun works best...couldn't resist, sorry

Uh-oh, icecrmnckd (sp?) is cracking

Un-duh presh-uh...

I think the interest exhibited by the preorder suggests to "them" how many boxes to make. we got months to go. Still, it's fun kicking the hornets nest...

FU

See, Daverocks right, nonsense

Edit: their testing the same glue that was on George’s wedding invatations

Took me

Over a half hour to get that sentence about glue in, FFS!
Fix this nonsense

The Dave interview

Thanks Uncle Tripel!

Edit: Hey Now'd!!

Edit testing: "Nonsense"

What Oro sez

Bollocks! testing...

Testing: Double Bollocks!

Edit: proof that Daverock is correct.

Do the math

Avalon + Ark = Box

Got Hey Now'ed on my wonderfully written post, so you get this instead.........

Can I even say Rock On any more?

Doc
To appreciate nonsense requires a serious interest in life.......

Avalon + Ark.

I'm all in

C+

On the math
Add 4/13&15 (tapes permitting) as their as good or better, and I’ll give ya an A
Of course an apple wouldn’t hurt ; )

POSTERS

Just an FYI........Heritage Auctions is auctioning off lots of vintage posters starting 04/11...........Skull & Roses poster is up to $41K................check it out.........Acid Test advertisements/posters also available............I know most of us on this site have money to burn, and not just in a bowl, so enjoy the browsing............lots of cool, expensive stuff.

Primal Drum

just sayin', Nome Sane?

this word...

...is a Hey now word!
w
i
n
t
e
r
l
a
n
d

hahaha
give me a fah king break

Testing (again)

Test me, test me....

Edit: then you add a real message through the edit function.

Edit II: I have nothing to say. Just ****ing around!

4/5/69. 10/31/69. 6/27,& 28/69. Building a 1969 Box set

What would you add to the 1969 box set?

'69 additions

I can't remember the exact date but its a Feb show in Philadelphia

6 14 69

Another date I can't remember exactly Portland or Eugene maybe May

there are many

please hop to it Dave and pals

1969 ok

My preference for 1969 shows are the ones played during the first 6 months. Before they started branching out into a more country based direction. It always feels as though that style was better served a few years later on - understandably, as they got better at it - to my ears - with experience.

89-90 multi tracks

Thanks to whoever mentioned the interview with Dave from a few years ago when he was excited about the Giants Stadium box. I found it surprising that he revealed the Dead had recorded in multi track three tours over the 89- 90 period. I know the Spring 1990 boxes covered that tour, but what is left unreleased?

I wanna know....

....if they recorded the Cal Expo '89 run in multitrack. Solid shows. Solid venue.

Cal Expo 89

Wanted to go A LOT

but wife's cousin got married that weekend in Missoula MT

"Yes, dear"

I did get a trip to glacier national park out of the deal

Cest la vie

The marriage didn't last, btw

Nitecat

October '89 needs more attention.
5 show run at Meadowlands after the Warlocks shows.
3 show run at The Spectrum.
2 shows at Charlotte Coliseum.
And, 1 unreleased show from Miami Arena. The other one was in the 30 Trips box.
Peace

Death Don't Have No Mercy. 4/6/69.

Worth the price of admission.

Seeing things again for the first time

:)))

4/7/71

Hard to Handle

Nice

This is a show of which I would love to hear a complete version

This site

Becoming like a ghost town

Eclipse in Goleta, CA

Caught our 50% worth in a parking lot to the tune of Estimated>Eyes>Drums>Space>NFA from Paris 10/17/81.

Proudfoot is 'dead on'

Why bother with our outrageously witty banter if we get stymied by HN?

It's too bad, because many of us met up at shows, traded music, and hyped the releases amongst ourselves. That's got to be good for business. I think a clumsy coder must be doing 'security' for the site and can't write code to block fraudsters without turning everyone else away. HF

Odd Selection

I've been listening to every show from 1974 this month. So far Reno 5/12 and Munich 9/14 are the only sub-par performances of the year. The band was a bit rusty after a long time off. No idea what went into the decision to select this date. Maybe no better alternatives for the 50th anniversary release.

5-12-74 subpar

74 has a high bar.

What’s being released from 5-12-74 fits on 2 CD’s, so it works for a 3-CD release. I had the show on cassette in the late 90’s, and have had several digital versions since. Got an upgrade last year. This release should be the best sounding version and is a good choice for the bonus discs because it doesn’t qualify to be a DaP or in a Box. But still needs to be released.

Interesting

Some of the more interesting posts on this thread are the deceptively clever criticisms regarding the posts that would not through to the heycow police

yes, I'm pretty sure even
he y n o w
is a restricted word, or so it appears.

The good people here trying to honestly comment on the music, culture, stories, shows etc. but were denied and ended up whimsically complaining about the system that snuffed their posts into oblivion. All that remains are comically interesting posts regarding the stupid rhino censorship system they probably spent as much money on as it would be to produce CDs that actually played without skipping, having glue smears, not playing at all after ten years etc. Ok rant over.

So my suggestion to senor pinkus et al, take the money spent on your wordsmith gestapo crack web design team and us it to make better cds that play well.

(how'd I do?)

btw, Reno was ok, agree 74 established a high bar but even the sleepers sound better than the average bear. Even Roanake, Palis des Sports and some of the others deserve some listening love.

QED

For example, how did I get that last post through when the 14 before that were actually about the GD got snuffed.

As you were

1974

It's a year where each and every show I have heard has held some interest. Even the ones that don't qualify as top banana. I have never heard 5/12/74 before - so I am looking forward to this release.

MONEY MONEY...

...jiminmd, yup takin' it to the house! rhino, owned by wmg, large us corporation; new ceo makes mark with successive year layoffs, yup public awareness profits up, . .impacting tech? wmg = warner music group . . can you squeeze some more...
it's only bucks, you don't need no jack
so won't you please relax and lay way back

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