Comments on: Grateful Dead “From The Mars Hotel”

By: Ruby

Ruby — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:01:08 +0000

Phil Lesh is singing “Unbroken Chain.” “Scarlet Begonias” is one of my top 10 Dead songs. Great post.

By: Len Liechti

Len Liechti — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:59:56 +0000

Thanx for that, Daniel. I too enjoy Blues For Allah, but I think the Dead’s unexpected detours into jazz – all those diminished chord scales on “Slipknot!” – and disco and reggae rhythms take them pretty close to Steely Dan, whilst ” Sand Castles & Glass Camels” hearkens right back, for me, to Syd-era Floyd. Parts of Blues For Allah could just be mistaken for someone else, whereas From The Mars Hotel couldn’t be anyone but the Dead. For me, still their best album.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:40:35 +0000

Never listened to this album, but I have a real soft spot for its follow-up, Blues for Allah. While it peters out a little toward the end of side 2, the first 5 tracks are stone cold classics, especially the Help>Slip>Frank’s combo (better here than live) and the underrated Crazy Fingers. You should do a review of that one sometime too.

Actually, though, you’d be surprised how many heads would count this as part of the “golden age” – those who enjoy the mellowness of 73 often find a lot to love in 74, especially in the realm of the extended jams like “Playin’ in the Band” or “Dark Star”. Now, for myself, I think the golden age ran from 68-72. After losing Pigpen, the short songs seemed to lose their edge. I love some of the incredible 74 long jams but I usually skip the rest. For the complete package, give me 1970 any day.

By: Liberty

Liberty — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:31:14 +0000

Unbroken Chain Is perhaps the Dead’s zenith in the recording studio. Absolute classic.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:12:22 +0000

Wicked call. Workingman’s and Beauty were the only two Icould enjoy consistently till now. This ones a keeper.

By: tony c

tony c — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:21:10 +0000

I’m guessing it’s Keith singing. I don’t know this album that well. Back when I was a post-teenage dead head I think this album and Wake of the Flood were out of print for a while. Not that many of my friends had them on vinyl.

Read that story I linked to in the first comment. It’s funny.

By: MIKE T

MIKE T — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:06:49 +0000

Now I remember why I wasted large chunks of my life between 1981- ahhh..well..I guess it still is happening!…anyway…who is this?…great freakin song..I must say!!

By: tony c

tony c — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:28:39 +0000

I was just listening to Ship of Fools. And oddly enough, reading a hilarious take about a guy dead head on the verge of becoming a Super Dead Head who’s contemplating wearing a batik skirt like some of the Whirling / Spinning guys and gals, but instead has an epiphany and comes to his senses.

I call it The Pigpen Moment.

Here’s the link to the story. Pass it on, bro.
http://www.hermenaut.com/a22.shtml