GRATEFUL DEAD ‘DICK’S PICKS VOL. 19 10/19/73 OKLAHOMA CITY FAIRGROUNDS ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK’ LIMITED HAND-NUMBERED 180-GRAM 6LP

Description

LABEL: Real Gone Music
VINYL RELEASE DATE: 4/1/2022
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: December 2021
VARIANT: Black Vinyl 6LP Box Set

Our previous LP releases of Grateful Dead concerts from the Dicks Picks series have encompassed the years of 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1977but theres one year on that list that is conspicuous by its absence. Thats right…we have yet to release a concert on vinyl from what is arguably the peak year of Dead touring, 1973! And what was the peak tour from that year? Yup, the fall Midwest tour. So, the choice of Dicks Picks Vol. 19 as our next vinyl trip was an easy one. It was the first concert of the tour, and in fact at the time it was the first full 1973 concert to be released. More importantly, with the release of Wake of the Flood just a few days prior, it finds the band invigorated with a wealth of fresh material to explore, highlighted by stellar (no pun intended) renditions of Stella Blue and Eyes of the World. And the two sidelong numbers on the set, Playing in the Band and Dark Star (which leads into a dazzling Mind Left Body Jam and a stirring Morning Dew), achieve sheer improvisational bliss. The original sound mix on this one is superb, and weve taken great care to preserve it and even improve upon it for this release, with mastering for vinyl from the original tapes by the sets original mastering engineer, Jeffrey Norman, lacquer cutting by Clint Holley and Dave Polster at Well Made Music, and a 180-gram black vinyl pressing at Gotta Groove Records. Weve also included an insert sporting the graphics from the original release, housed inside a two-piece hardshell box that weve hand-numbered. Limited to 4500 6-LP setsand if previous experience is any guide, theyre gonna go fast!