Dave's Picks Volume 18 cover

Released 10 years ago

Dave's Picks Volume 18

Grateful Dead · 2016

206 min · 28 tracks · psychedelic rock

A vibrant tapestry of live improvisation, blending blues, folk, and rock in ways that defy convention.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Promised Land Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Scarlet Begonias — The track showcases the band's ability to weave intricate melodies with seamless transitions into improvisational jams, capturing the essence of their live experience.
  • →
    Eyes of the World — Its dynamic structure and fluid improvisation exemplify the band's psychedelic rock influences while inviting a sense of communal euphoria.
  • →
    The Other One — This song serves as a centerpiece for extended exploration, highlighting the band's penchant for jamming and showcasing their tight musicianship.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

62 /100
Treeline
Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album captures the essence of live Grateful Dead performances with strong improvisation and distinct transitions.

What we noticed

  • The album features extended improvisational sections, particularly in tracks like 'Drums' and 'Space', which showcase the band's ability to explore musical themes in real-time.
  • The running time is over two hours, with many songs transitioning seamlessly into one another, emphasizing the live performance aspect.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic journey with peaks
  • vibrant improvisation and storytelling
  • headphone detail hunting
  • late-night reflective listening
  • cathartic extended jams

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer short, standalone tracks
  • need instant gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Deep Cut — Highlights a significant live performance period; appeals to dedicated fans of the band's improvisation.
Themes
1970s improvisational jams· psychedelic exploration
Career context
Released in 2016, Dave's Picks Volume 18 is part of the Grateful Dead's archival series showcasing live performances from their extensive career. At this point, the band had long been disbanded since Jerry Garcia's passing in 1995, yet their legacy continued to flourish through live recordings and dedicated fan support. This volume captures a performance from 1974, reflecting the band's signature experimental sound during a prolific era.
New to Grateful Dead? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Promised Land Start here 4:37
  • 2 Mississippi Half‐Step Uptown Toodeloo 9:41
  • 3 Mama Tried 3:03
  • 4 Deal 5:03
  • 5 New Minglewood Blues 4:58
  • 6 Peggy‐O 9:14
  • 7 Big River 6:23
  • 8 Sugaree 11:29
  • 9 Johnny B. Goode 4:30
  • 10 Samson and Delilah 7:40

Disc 2

  • 1 Comes a Time > 16:00
  • 2 Drums > 1:39
  • 3 The Other One > 5:46
  • 4 Space > 9:59
  • 5 Eyes of the World > 7:37
  • 6 Jam > 7:21
  • 7 The Other One > 3:36
  • 8 Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad > 7:10
  • 9 One More Saturday Night 6:12
  • 10 U.S. Blues 7:16

Disc 3

  • 1 Not Fade Away 14:32
  • 2 Big River 7:02
  • 3 Brown‐Eyed Women 5:50
  • 4 Looks Like Rain 7:35
  • 5 Peggy‐O 9:19
  • 6 The Music Never Stopped > 5:53
  • 7 Scarlet Begonias 10:56
  • 8 U.S. Blues 6:33

What to play next

Wake of the Flood
Listen next

Wake of the Flood

1973

Continues the live improvisation vibe with a mix of folk and rock elements.
Europe '72: Wembley Empire Pool, London, England
Go back to

Europe '72: Wembley Empire Pool, London, England

2011

Sets the stage with similar energy and live performance essence.
Full Grateful Dead discography Where to start with Grateful Dead Artists like Grateful Dead
psychedelic rock

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

At Fillmore East

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

Captures the same blend of improvisation and Southern rock energy, with extended jams and soulful melodies.

A Live One

A Live One

Phish

Features extensive live improvisation and a similar spirit of exploration in their jam-heavy performances.

Surrealistic Pillow

Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

Shares a psychedelic vibe and era, with lyrical explorations and rich harmonies that echo the Dead's sound.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata