The Grateful Dead - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 3/9/81 (2023 Rocktober Edition) [5LP Box Set] Vinyl Record

The Grateful Dead’s Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 3/9/81 finally gets its long-awaited vinyl debut, and it's an absolute gem.

Released as part of the 2023 Rocktober series, this limited 5LP box set captures the band at their tight, trippy best in one of their most legendary venues.

Recorded live at MSG on March 9, 1981, this show is a rollercoaster of psychedelic grooves, soulful ballads, and high-octane jams. The set kicks off with a fiery Feel Like a Stranger and rolls right into Althea, showcasing Jerry Garcia’s guitar wizardry. Side after side, the band serves up electric versions of China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet, and Stella Blue that hit all the emotional highs and cosmic corners you’d expect from an early-‘80s Dead show.

There’s real magic in the interplay between Garcia, Bob Weir, and Brent Mydland, whose keys bring a punchy, soulful layer to the performance. The second set is particularly hot, closing with an explosive Good Lovin’ and a sweet U.S. Blues encore that leaves you grinning like a true Deadhead.

Housed in a deluxe slipcase with stunning artwork, this 5LP Rocktober edition is pressed on heavyweight black vinyl and sounds phenomenal. For collectors and completists, this is more than a concert — it’s a journey worth taking again and again.