Grateful Dead - From the Mars Hotel (2LPs, Ultra Analog, 45 tours)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
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Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, vocals, production
Donna Jean Godchaux – vocals, production
Keith Godchaux – keyboards, vocals, production
Bill Kreutzmann – drums, production
Phil Lesh – bass guitar, vocals, production
Bob Weir – guitar, vocals, production
Ned Lagin – synthesizers on "Unbroken Chain"
John McFee – pedal steel guitar on "Pride of Cucamonga"
2 LPs, gatefold jacket
Limited to 4,000 numbered copies
Original analog Master tape : YES
Half-speed Mastering
GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ LP
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : MOFI
Original Label : Grateful Dead Records
Recorded March 30 – April 19, 1974, in CBS Studios, San Francisco, California
Engineered & mixed by Roy Segal
Remastered by Krieg Wunderlich
Originally released in 1974
Reissued in 2019
Tracks:
Side A:
- U.S. Blues
- China Doll
Side B:
- Unbroken Chain
- Loose Lucy
Side C:
- Scarlet Begonias
- Pride of Cucamonga
Side D:
- Money Money
- Ship of Fools
Reviews :
"The Grateful Dead made their reputation on the road with their live shows, and they always struggled to capture that magic in the studio. From the Mars Hotel, while not a classic, represents one of their better studio albums. Jerry Garcia sounds engaged throughout and takes the vocal reigns for most of the songs on the album -- although he's not the most gifted vocalist, he proves himself able and versatile. He sings the rollicking opener, "U.S. Blues," with a tongue-in-cheek seriousness that gives the political song an edge, and he lends emotional sincerity to the atmospheric ballad "China Doll." Garcia shines on guitar during the funk workout "Scarlet Begonias," but the ensemble work is best displayed on the album's centerpiece, "Unbroken Chain." During this song, all the musicians are allowed to shine: Phil Lesh, the bassist and songwriter, provides tender vocals over a piano-based arrangement while the bridge allows the guitars and drums to stretch out in classic Grateful Dead style. This album is highly recommended for fans, but casual listeners should start with American Beauty or Workingman's Dead." AllMusic Review by Vik Iyengar
Ultra Analog™ : The GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ Series stems from the use of the Gain 2 system, mastered at half speed from the original master tapes where possible, capturing and uncovering as before undiscovered sonic information.
Half-speed mastering. In half-speed mastering, the whole process is slowed down to half of the original speed. A typical 33 1/3 rpm record is cut at 16 2/3 rpm. The source material is also slowed down (reducing the pitch in the process) meaning the final record will still sound normal when played back. Slowing the whole process down allows more time, which means the end result sounds better and is more efficient — allowing engineering to minimize the effects of inherent limitations within the vinyl format. The result is a more accurate and more open high-frequency response in the half speed vinyl when compared with a normal speed recording.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 , Discogs : 4,27 / 5