Grateful Dead
Dick's Picks Volume 19
FAIRGROUNDS
ARENA
Oklahoma City, OK 10/19/73
Review by Barry
Small
© 12/6/2001
Dick's
Picks Volume 19 is the first complete concert release from 1973. This performance was
recorded October 19, 1973, at Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City, OK.
Disc
one of Dick’s Picks Volume 19 has nothing to complain about, but the
meat of the release is in set two. Including
the encore it contains solid versions my five favorite Jerry Garcia songs,
"China Cat Sunflower,” "Mississippi Half Step," "Dark
Star," "Morning Dew," and "Eyes of the World."
The
"China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider" is great, but not
the beast that is on Dick's Picks Volume 12. The "Mississippi Half Step" is real good, but the
instrumental could be a bit longer. The
"Dark Star" is solid and flows effortlessly to "Mind Left
Body" and eventually into "Morning Dew."
The
highlight of the set is the "Morning Dew." It contains everything you want in a "Dew";
perfectly sweet vocals, melodic riffs, Phil bombs, Keith and Bobby riffs, and
Jerry's phrasing. The peaks and valleys shine, and Garcia lays it all out.
During the start of the second instrumental the song is so quiet and still.
Then, slowly and melodically it picks up energy; it then builds, and builds, and
builds into an explosive peak. It’s not just the energy though; the melodies
that bring the song to its crest are just as beautiful and important. Pure
bliss.
That's
not all Dick's Picks Volume 19 has to offer. The "Sugar Magnolia" that follows is great with
some fine soloing. How about an
encore with "Eyes of the World” >
“Stella Blue” Wow! If that isn’t enough we are treated to a second encore of
"Johnny B. Goode."
I
can’t think of a better single disc than the third one from this. Dick's
Picks Volume 19 is superb.
A
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Page last edited on 06/22/02
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