From the Mars Hotel Songs Ranked

From the Mars Hotel is the seventh studio album by rock band the Grateful Dead. It was mainly recorded in April 1974, and originally released June 27, 1974. It was the second album by the band on their own Grateful Dead Records label. From the Mars Hotel came less than one year after their previous album, Wake of the Flood, and was the last before the band’s then-indefinite hiatus from live touring, begun in October 1974. The Grateful Dead returned to the studio at the end of March 1974, having readied another batch of songs. The majority were again composed by lead guitarist Jerry Garcia and lyricist Robert Hunter and featured Garcia’s lead vocals. However, “Pride of Cucamonga” and “Unbroken Chain” were both written and sung by bassist Phil Lesh with the assistance of poet Bobby Petersen. This was the only time he would sing two songs on a Dead studio album, and they would be his final lead vocal work for the band until 1985. Rhythm guitarist Bob Weir contributed “Money Money” with writing partner John Perry Barlow. Here are all of From the Mars Hotel songs ranked.

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8. Scarlet Begonias

“Scarlet Begonias is one of the Dead’s catchiest songs. Scarlet Begonias. No other song in recent memory has affected me like this song.

7. U.S. Blues

“The satirical “U.S. Blues” manages to showcase the band’s patented psychedelic blues boogie while featuring lyrics that can easily stand next to Stevie Wonder’s “You Ain’t Done Nothin'” for expressing the outrage many felt over the still-unfolding Watergate scandal.”

See more: Grateful Dead Albums Ranked

6. Pride of Cucamonga

“In keeping with the way the Dead entered into the 70’s they give us the upbeat country rocker “Pride Of Cucamonga”.Yes so it’s very twangy but it all sounds so good everything on it really works.”

5. China Doll

“China Doll” is the kind of ballad only the Dead could do: A lament over a murder set to a beautiful, lilting accompaniment. Is it just me, or is China Doll not one of the most pretty little ditties on any DEAD album (and lyrically cool – a Hunter/Garcia creation), with its harmonies, chimes and clavichord? Nice touch of whimsey, I don’t get it why some don’t like it.”

4. Money Money

“Money Money” is a really hard rocker and the tale of a cash craving lady is also augmented by clever little melodic referrences to Barret Strongs similarly titled Motown classic.”

See more: Grateful Dead Songs Ranked

3. Unbroken Chain

“Unbroken Chain” is truly one of the most musically interesting pieces here-fooling you into thinking your in for a mellow folky tune again until these fairy tale firework sounding synthesizers seem to fall from the sky onto the song and the whole thing builds into this burning latin-rock type jam.”

2. Ship of Fools

“In many ways, “Ship of Fools” is the joker in this deck of songs; it’s a slow, sad bluesy number which could apply to any number of subjects lyrically. This is the Dead at their best, making what either Roger McGuinn or Gram Parsons called “Cosmic American Music” that takes touches of any number of genres and creates something new from them.”

1. Loose Lucy

“Loose Lucy” again harks back to the country-boogie of American Beauty,as does much of the album in general, but manages to establish its own identity with some red-hot slide guitar licks courtesy, I assume, of Mr. Garica himself.”