Albums from 1974 are turning 50 this year, and that includes the Grateful Dead‘s From the Mars Hotel. To celebrate, Rhino is reissuing the record, out June 21.
Originally released on June 27, 1974 — just a few short months after the band debuted their massive Wall of Sound at their live shows — From the Mars Hotel contains now-classics like “U.S. Blues,” “Scarlet Begonias,” and “Ship of Fools.”
Helmed by the Dead’s legendary archivist David Lemieux, the 3-CD From the Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) will feature all eight tracks, as well as demos of “China Doll” and “Wave That Flag.” You can hear the latter, which eventually became “U.S. Blues,” below.
The deluxe edition also includes a previously unreleased show: University of Nevada-Reno on 5/12/74, a performance the band got through despite a wind storm. The set list includes “China Cat Sunflower,” “I Know You Rider,” and more.
In addition to the deluxe edition, Rhino will also release the reissue in several vinyl variants, including standard black 180-gram, “Ugly Rumors” custom vinyl, and others. You can pre-order it here.
From the Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) follows the anniversary release of 1973’s Wake of the Flood and Here Comes Sunshine 1973, which contained five unreleased concerts. These days might be over, but you can catch the offshoot Dead & Company at their upcoming 18-date Sphere residency in Las Vegas, which kicks off on May 16.
From the Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) Track List
Disc 1
1. “U.S. Blues”
2. “China Doll”
3. “Unbroken Chain”
4. “Loose Lucy”
5. “Scarlet Begonias”
6. Pride of Cucamonga
7. “Money Money”
8. “Ship of Fools”
9. “China Doll” (Demo)
10. “Wave That Flag” (Demo)
Disc 2: Live From the University of Nevada-Reno, 5/12/74
1. “Sugaree”
2. “Mexicali Blues”
3. “Tennessee Jed”
4. “Jack Straw”
5. “Brown-Eyed Women”
6. “Beat It on Down the Line”
7. “China Cat Sunflower”
8. “I Know You Rider”
9. “El Paso”
10. “U.S. Blues”
11. “Greatest Story Ever Told”
12. “It Must Have Been the Roses”
13. :Me and Bobby McGee:
Disc 3: Live From the University of Nevada-Reno, 5/12/74
1. “Deal”
2. “Around and Around”
3. “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”
4. “Truckin’”
5. “The Other One”
6. “Row Jimmy”
7. “Big River”
8. “Ship of Fools”
9. “Sugar Magnolia”